Bishan Stadium's capacity to be expanded to 10,000 for Lion City Sailors' Asian Champs League 2 final
Bishan Stadium's capacity to be expanded to 10,000 for Lion City Sailors' Asian Champs League 2 final
SINGAPORE – Preparations are underway to expand Bishan Stadium's capacity to 10,000 for the Lion City Sailors' historic Asian Champions League Two final against Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates on May 18.
In a media statement on May 5, the club said that stands are being erected on three sides of the pitch so that the stadium can accommodate over three times more spectators for the continental showpiece. The main stand's capacity is only 2,800.
Work being done to construct the north stand at the Bishan Stadium on May 5 ahead of the Asian Champions League Two final on May 18.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
When The Straits Times visited the stadium on the same day, workers were seen constructing the north stand and putting finishing touches to the east stand, with the help of a lorry crane. The south stand seemed to be completed.
Bishan Stadium was a designated rally site during the recent general election, but the pitch looked fine after protective boards, which were used to cover the field during the campaigning period, were removed on May 2.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which had earlier granted provisional approval for the Sailors to host the final at Bishan, is expected to conduct a final inspection this week.
'The significant effort to prepare the venue for the final reflects the Sailors' commitment to ensure that this historic occasion can be enjoyed by as many fans as possible,' added the club statement.
'It is also the Sailors' desire to create an immersive atmosphere worthy of a continental cup final as the team chases glory on home soil.'
Sailors chairman Forrest Li added in the statement: 'This final is not just a milestone for the Sailors – it's a celebration of Singapore football.
'We can't wait to see the stands packed and the nation rallying behind the team.'
Tickets will go on sale via Sistic on May 6 at noon, with prices ranging from $26 (students and seniors) for all stands to $50 for a main-stand seat.
Those who are part of The Deck, the club's official membership programme, will enjoy a 50 per cent discount on all ticket prices. Around five per cent of the total seats will be allocated to away fans.
The Sailors had reached the ACL 2 final, which is contested by the top teams from East and West Asia, after a 2-1 aggregate win over A-League side Sydney FC in their two-legged semi-finals. Sharjah advanced also with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Taawoun in their last-four tie.
The venue of the final alternates between both regions yearly, with this being the East region's turn.
The Sailors had played their six ACL 2 home matches at the Jalan Besar Stadium this season, winning four times, drawing once and losing once.
However, after both sides qualified for the showpiece, Sharjah requested via an open letter on social media that the final not be played at Jalan Besar, citing its artificial pitch and 6,000-seater capacity.
The 55,000-seater National Stadium will be unavailable, as the first of Lady Gaga's four concerts will take place there on the day of the final.
Workers adding in the seats to the newly erected east stand at the Bishan Stadium on May 5.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Following inspections by AFC officials, Bishan Stadium – also the home ground of the SPL-leading Sailors and Balestier Khalsa in the domestic league – was on April 23 given provisional approval to stage the final.
The Sailors added that they 'are working closely with Sport Singapore, the Football Association of Singapore and sport industry partners to ensure that the venue is match-ready and deliver a true spectacle – one that showcases the nation's ability to stage world-class football events'.
Fans can also look forward to an 'enhanced matchday experience', with mobile food trucks, carnival games and photo booths set to build the buzz ahead of the 8pm kick-off.
Besides increasing the capacity, other preparations include improvements to the natural grass pitch and enhancements to the floodlights to meet TV broadcast requirements.
According to the 2021 edition of the AFC Stadium Regulations, a horizontal illuminance – the amount of light that falls on a horizontal surface – of 1,800 lux is required for the final of the AFC Cup, the ACL 2's predecessor, while 1,400 lux is sufficient for the competition's earlier stages.
Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.
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