It’s Not Just for Sports: A Guide to Singapore Sports Hub
Located in Kallang, the Singapore Sports Hub has everything that events need—from arenas to full-blown stadiums. You can even find other facilities like libraries, museums, and malls, so you can still come here just for fun!
In short, the Singapore Sports Hub is not just for sports. If you want to learn more, especially about the different facilities found here, read on.
Things to Know
Address: Stadium Drive, Kallang, Singapore 397718
Contact Number: +6566538900
Website
History and Background
The idea for a sports hub in Singapore only arose in 2001 when Abdullah Tarmugi, the then community development and sports minister, proposed it.
He proposed this idea after the Committee of Sport Singapore called for promoting sports culture in the country.
In 2008, the Singapore government asked the Singapore Sports Hub Consortium (SSHC), led by Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd., to build the Sports Hub.
The goal was to replace the former National Stadium and add new facilities like an aquatic center, indoor arena, and several recreational areas.
On June 30, 2014, the 35-hectare Singapore Sports Hub was finally opened to the public. Since then, it has hosted several events, such as the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and countless concerts by local and international artists.
How to Get There
MRT: Riding the MRT is the best way to get to the Singapore Sports Hub because it’s directly connected to two MRT stations: Stadium and Kallang. The Mountbatten station is also nearby, so you can choose to disembark there if needed.
Bus: Bus service 11 is the most recommended bus to ride because it stops directly outside the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Other options are bus services 10, 14, 16, 70, 70M, and 196; then alight on Bus Stop 80211, which is along Nicoll Highway.
Taxi: There are three taxi stands here: along Stadium Crescent next to the Singapore Indoor Stadium, along Stadium Boulevard next to OCBC Arena, and along Stadium Place next to OCBC Aquatic Center and Kallang Wave Mall.
Car: Each facility in the Sports Hub has its own parking lot, so feel free to park wherever you want. Rates are S$0.021 per minute, but if you park in the Kallang Wave car park and spend at least S$50, you’ll receive two hours of complimentary weekday parking.
Facilities
National Stadium
The National Stadium is undeniably the main highlight of the Singapore Sports Hub. After all, it’s the biggest structure within the premises; featuring an area of 75,000 square meters, it can seat up to 55,000 people.
Aside from its size, the National Stadium boasts an interesting architectural style. It’s a dome structure—in fact, the largest in the world—with a retractable roof, which is designed to reflect sunlight and insulate the interior.
This stadium is primarily used for sporting events. It’s the home stadium of the Singapore national football team and has hosted the Southeast Asian Games and several matches of the AFF Championships.
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Many people believe that the National Stadium and the Singapore Indoor Stadium are one and the same, but in reality, they’re two different structures. They are located next to each other, though, which is probably why people interchange the two of them.
Unlike the National Stadium, the Indoor Stadium isn’t an open-air structure; it’s actually an indoor arena (despite the name). Its maximum seating capacity is only 15,000, which is much smaller than the National Stadium’s 55,000 seating capacity.
The Indoor Stadium is best suited for events that don’t need the massive football field of the National Stadium. That’s why sporting events like badminton, basketball, netball, tennis, esports, mixed martial arts, and more are held here.
OCBC Arena
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 10 pm
The OCBC Arena is designed to accommodate both athletes and casual sports enthusiasts. It has six indoor sports halls, which can be used for multiple purposes.
Athletes are most of the patrons here since they need the space to train. The OCBC Arena has facilities for sports like badminton, basketball, netball, table tennis, volleyball, fencing, taekwondo, and rhythmic gymnastics.
But if you’re just a fitness enthusiast, you can have the second floor to yourself. There, you can find the Sports Hub Gym, which has the latest gym equipment like free weights, cardio machines, assisted machines, and resistance machines.
OCBC Aquatic Center
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Monday—7 am to 9:30 pm
- Closed on Tuesday
The OCBC Aquatic Center is kind of like the OCBC Arena, only this time, it’s for swimming. In fact, it’s home to the Singapore Swimming Association.
This building hosts three pools: a 50 m x 10 lane competition pool, a 50m x 8 lane training pool, and a 25 m wide diving/multi-purpose pool. These pools are primarily used by training athletes or athletes participating in aquatics competitions.
That said, this aquatic center is also open to the general public. There are actually camps frequently hosted here where children can improve their swimming skills, as well as learn the fundamentals of diving, artistic swimming, and surfing.
Water Sports Center
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 8 pm
Located along the Kallang Basin, the Water Sports Center is where you go when you want to participate in canoeing and kayaking. There are canoes and kayaks available for rent, so you don’t have to bring your own equipment.
If you’re new to kayaking or canoeing—or you wish to improve your skills—there are courses and programs provided here as well. You can also enroll yourself in a dragon boat orientation program!
Aside from being a public recreational facility, the Water Sports Center houses the Singapore Canoe Federation, Singapore Rowing Association, and Singapore Dragon Boat Association. It’s also where professional kayakers and canoeists come to practice.
Singapore Sports Museum
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 8 pm
If you love visiting museums, then you should stop by the Singapore Sports Museum within the Sports Hub. As the name suggests, this museum traces the sporting history of Singapore.
Here, you’ll be able to learn the stories of the nation’s best legends and see rare artifacts like certain athletes’ shoes and bicycles. There are also interactive exhibits where you can show your (non-existent) skills in sports like golf and table tennis.
Another highlight is the Singapore Youth Olympic Museum, which commemorates the Singapore Youth Olympic Games held in 2010. This section is meant to inspire the next generation of aspiring athletes.
Shimano Cycling World
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 8 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +6598305212
Website
Shimano Cycling World is a must-visit for cycling enthusiasts or anyone who’s interested to learn more about cycling as a sport.
The interesting thing about this “hidden museum” is that the exhibitions are essentially collections of bicycles. Visitors can even pull a bicycle out if they want to get a closer look and feel!
There are also interactive exhibits that show you the history of bicycles and the different park connector networks in Singapore.
If you’re in the mood to shop, Shimano Cycling World also has a store with various souvenirs, bike accessories and tools, and all kinds of apparel.
Sports Hub Library
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 8 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +6566539652
Website
The Sports Hub also has a public library for all the sports nerds out there. This library is filled with all kinds of books and other resources about sports, health and fitness, and coaching, so you’ll really get all the information you need here.
There are also books and magazines dedicated to niche topics, such as business management and science. In other words, more topics to learn about!
If you’re not here to study, no worries; you can just stay in the library to enjoy the air conditioning and peaceful environment. Maybe even take a nap; no one will judge you here!
Stadium Skatepark
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Stadium Skatepark is one of the community spaces in the Singapore Sports Hub, and I recommend coming here, especially if you love skating. It has a half-pipe where you can practice your skating skills.
You don’t even have to be experienced to enjoy skating here. Just bring your own helmet and skateboard and start learning this sport in this skatepark; you’ll definitely have a blast!
Kallang Wave Mall
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6567025168
Kallang Wave Mall is one of the two shopping malls found within the Singapore Sports Hub. It’s noted for its vibrant interior, making it a perfect destination for families to explore.
One of the main highlights here is FairPrice Xtra, which is actually a hypermart that’s sports-themed (the first of its kind!). Aside from that, you can find other well-known brands, such as H&M, Cotton On, and My Kampung.
If you’re feeling sore, there’s an authentic Japanese onsen and spa here (it’s also the first in Singapore) called Yunomori. Stop by here to give your muscles the massage they deserve.
Leisure Park Kallang
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6562421220
Website
Leisure Park Kallang is a mall noted for its many exciting activities. From watching movies to bowling and ice skating, you’ll definitely find something fun to do here—be it alone or with your friends and family.
In addition to leisure activities, this mall also has superb dining options. Some of the highlights include The Orange Lantern (authentic Vietnamese cuisine), Saizeriya (a casual Italian restaurant), and Ando (Euro-Japanese cuisine fusion).
Kallang Ice World
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—10 am to 10 pm
- Friday—10 am to 12 am
- Saturday—9 am to 12 am
- Sunday—9 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +6563481123
Singapore may not see snow, but that won’t stop people from wanting to skate on ice. If you’re interested in ice skating, head to Kallang Ice World, which is located inside Leisure Park Kallang.
This skating rink is actually built and designed to match competition standards, so you can expect nothing but quality equipment and experience. There’s also an extensive selection of courses if you want to start learning ice skating or improve your skills.
Sometimes, the rink hosts skating performances and competitions, so feel free to sit and enjoy the show.
Events
Sporting events, such as matches and competitions, are most commonly held in the Singapore Sports Hub, especially in the National Stadium and Indoor Stadium. Aside from that, many concerts by local and international artists are hosted in both venues.
The National Stadium is also one of the venues for the celebration of National Day in Singapore. The parade is held here, and after that, spectators can watch several grand song and dance performances before the ultimate finale and the fireworks display.
Family entertainment and community activities are sometimes hosted in any of the Sports Hub venues as well. A few examples include the yearly Disney On Ice in the Indoor Stadium and the Sporty Playdate in the OCBC Square.
How do I buy tickets for events held in the Singapore Sports Hub?
Buying tickets for events held in the Singapore Sports Hub depends on the type of event you want to attend.
Each event—be it a concert or a sporting match—has its own organizer, so you’ll most likely have to buy tickets through a third-party website.
Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and Sistic are the most common third-party websites that sell tickets for events in the Singapore Sports Hub.
Sometimes, it’s also possible to buy tickets from travel apps like Klook, so be on the lookout there if you want.
Community activities, on the other hand, are usually free, so you only have to come on the specified date and time to attend them.
Hiring Venues in the Singapore Sports Hub
Planning to host an event of your own? Then, you might want to hire a venue in the Singapore Sports Hub!
The venues here can serve multiple purposes, so whether you want to host an exclusive event or a large-scale entertainment act, you can find one that suits your needs.
To hire a venue, you just have to fill out the application form on the venue hire page on the Sports Hub’s website.
Tips to Remember When Visiting the Singapore Sports Hub
In order to make your visit to the Singapore Sports Hub hitch-free, be sure to keep in mind the following tips:
- Arrive early. This is especially true for people attending concerts and sporting events. There will be thousands of spectators, so it’s best that you arrive early to avoid crowds.
- Take public transport if possible. Large-scale events certainly mean that all the parking lots will be packed, so if you can’t come early enough to secure a spot, you might as well just take public transportation instead.
- Travel light. Avoid bringing bulky bags; instead, settle for a small bag and only bring the essentials like your phone, wallet, and IDs. This shortens your waiting time; if you bring a bulky bag, security might take too long to inspect everything.
- Bring earplugs. This is for people who are attending concerts. Concerts are loud events, and if you don’t protect your ears, the loudness might actually hurt them. To avoid this, you should wear earplugs, especially ones designed for concerts.
- Bring an empty water bottle. While you’re not allowed to bring outside food and water to the stadiums, you can bring an empty plastic bottle. There’s a water fountain inside the venue, so you can just fill the bottle there.
- Bring a power bank. Once the event is done, you might struggle to ride public transport because there are too many people. So, you might have to book a ride from a ride-hailing app, and to do that, your phone needs to have enough charge.
- Wear comfortable clothes. This is especially true for people attending events in the National Stadium. Since this stadium isn’t covered, you might have to deal with the heat, so to protect yourself, wear something light and comfortable.