Upgraded Bishan Stadium to host 10,000 fans in ACL 2 final between Lion City Sailors, Sharjah FC
SINGAPORE – For die-hard fans like Eddy Hirono and Tan Chin Heng, attending a Lion City Sailors home match at Bishan Stadium has become a weekly ritual.
But even this devoted duo, who have attended nearly every home game since 2023, have been wowed by the stadium's near-overnight transformation for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two final.
On May 8, the two fans and media were given a preview of the venue that will stage the clash between the Sailors and Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates on May 18.
'My first reaction is that it is really breathtaking. I can already imagine what the stadium, the atmosphere, will feel like, with 10,000 fans backing the team, so I'm really looking forward to match day,' said Tan, 35, an engineer.
Eddy, 37, a legal counsel, added: 'Of course, it's a very foreign sight, but a very welcome sight. We were joking around and said it's like the rainbow stadium now, because of all the different coloured stands, it does remind me a bit of the National Day Parade.'
Work on the Bishan Stadium began on May 3, after the AFC granted provisional approval.
The match is being held in Singapore owing to the AFC's decision to alternate the showpiece venue between the East and West Asia finalists annually, with East Asia hosting the 2025 final.
The Sailors hosted six ACL Two home games at the Jalan Besar Stadium this season, notching four wins, a draw and a loss. But the venue was deemed unsuitable for the final, while the 55,000-capacity National Stadium is unavailable due to the Lady Gaga concert.
Upgrading and cleaning works being conducted at Bishan Stadium on May 8, 2025.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
The Straits Times understands that it cost an estimated $1 million to get the Bishan Stadium ready for the ACL2 final. The Sailors, Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Football Association of Singapore and the AFC have chipped in to fund the preparations, which includes the opening and closing entertainment during the final.
Three spectator stands have been erected around the pitch as part of the upgrading work, increasing the stadium's capacity from about 2,800 to 10,000. Tickets to the continental decider – the first to be played on Singapore soil – were sold out a day after they went on sale.
The added seating was required to accommodate VIPs, AFC staff and media. An onsite medical room, rooms for AFC's technical officials and working committee have also been set up at the stadium.
A press conference room, media tribune and media centre that can accommodate a minimum pax of 50 have also been installed.
Other improvements include enhancements to the floodlights to meet TV broadcast requirements. The horizontal illuminance – the amount of light that falls on a horizontal surface – has been upgraded to 1,800 lux. ST understands that the previous level of 1,500 lux – similar to Jalan Besar – was deemed sufficient for the competition's earlier stages, but not the final.
To accommodate both teams' coaches, managers, and players, the benches from the National Stadium's dugouts have been brought in, and the away dressing room has been renovated.
The renovated away dressing room is among the upgrades at Bishan Stadium for the ACL Two final.
ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN
Sailors sporting director Badri Ghent told ST that the club met with SportSG and the FAS to put up a plan to meet the AFC's requirements for hosting the ACL Two final, and that work began 'in ernest after the General Elections'.
The pitch at Bishan Stadium – which has at times this season looked worse for wear – also received the care needed to be ready for the final. While the stadium was used for a PAP rally on April 30, a pitch protection cover was used to prevent serious deterioration.
Workers inspecting the field at Bishan Stadium on May 8, 2025.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
As a result, the pitch looked in prime condition on May 8.
Jonathan Teo, pitch architect at Kallang Alive Sport Management – which oversees the maintenance of the National Stadium field – and his six-man team have been working on the field since May 3.
He has been conducting frequent tests to assess the quality of the pitch and he is confident that the surface will be of competition-level standard on game day.
'When the maintenance regime is the same, you would expect that the performance and the service level (of the field) will be the same, because my objective is to get it to a competition level, and that is to get it conformed with the Fifa standards or requirements,' said Teo.
Badri also noted that the Sailors want to deliver more than physical upgrades to fans on the day. He added: 'Beyond the physical tweaks, we want to also make the atmosphere an unforgettable one for the fans. We are planning a carnival-like setting complete with food trucks, games and merchandise for fan engagement zones.'
Die-hard Sailors fans and members of The Crew, the official fan club of the Sailors have also prepared a special tifo – a large banner– to be unveiled in the stands on matchday.
Members of the prominent local fan group SingaBrigade which forms the most vocal section during national team matches will also lend their support to the Sailors.
Eddy said: 'I think it's such a happy occasion that Singapore team makes the finals, and we're so happy that there'll be so many new fans, not just the usual Sailors fans who will turn up for the games. I hope that the team, the staff, and, of course, the fans ourselves, we make it a night to remember forever.'
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