Singapore Sports Hub looks to stage more live events in 2021

The Singapore Sports Hub is looking to host more and bigger live events next year on the back of its successful hosting of mixed martial arts One Championship events since last October.

Its experience of Singapore’s Project Dorm, which saw the OCBC Arena and National Stadium transformed to house 3,000 migrant workers to help contain the spread of COVID-19, has also showcased its ability to zone and accommodate a sizeable number of people without compromising on safe distancing.

Advising that 2020 challenging year but one of learning opportunities, Sports Hub Chief Executive, Lionel Yeo told Singapore’s The Straits Times that the SG$1.33 billion facility is "eager to put together more safe and engaging events as we transition into Phase 3".

He added "with the right mindset and approach and the cooperation of all stakeholders, we believe that this national asset can deliver great value to Singapore through good times and bad."

As reported by The Straits Times, the MMA One Championship held a closed-door event on 9th October and another, with 250 fans in attendance, on 30th October - Singapore’s first live post COVID sports event.

With the Sports Hub having held four live shows since October, the Singapore Government is working with the venue as part of a pilot project that it hopes will help identify a model that can be widely implemented so that more large-scale events can resume safely in the city state

With marquee events like rugby's Singapore Sevens and the International Champions Cup football competition cancelled in 2020, the Sports Hub moved into what it called ‘phygital’ program with online and offline elements.

In November, it hosted ZoomBa, a 'phygital' event that saw both online and offline participants come together for Singapore's longest Zumba relay.

Despite safe management restrictions, the Sports Hub welcomed more than 4.8 million visitors last year and organised more than 140 activity sessions for Singaporeans during November and December.

The OCBC Aquatic Centre was especially popular, with entries up 41% in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the same period in 2019. 

Images: Cardio fitness session at the Singapore Sports Hub (top) and swimmers at the OCBC Aquatic Centre (below). Credit: Singapore Sports Hub/Facebook.