Sports Hub gears for big test on Tuesday
PUBLISHED ONOctober 13, 2014 6:30 PMBySanjay Nair
The Singapore Sports Hub is ready to host its biggest crowd since opening its doors in June.
Ushers and signage will be deployed across the Kallang facility to ensure the 55,000 spectators who arrive for Tuesday's Brazil-Japan friendly are on the right track for an evening of football, fun and food.
Fans are advised to take public transport - all pre-sold carpark lots have been snapped up - and arrive early to take in attractions such as the Kallang Wave Mall ahead of the 6.45pm kick-off.
Sports Hub chief operating officer Oon Jin Teik said: "Having heard the feedback from recent events, restaurants at the mall and concession stands inside the stadium are stocking up on supplies to ensure minimal delays.
"It's a weekday, so we know people are rushing from work and also want to go home early after (the game) to sleep. "We hope to give them a positive spectator experience in between."
It will be the first major test of the Sports Hub's operational capabilities as it builds up to eventually hosting capacity crowds simultaneously at its multiple venues.
On Tuesday, the National Stadium's highest tier of seats on level six will be opened up for the first time, which means more crowd safety staff and auxiliary police officers will be on stand-by.
Approximately 650 ushers, crowd safety officers and auxiliary police will be deployed on Tuesday. This excludes the mobile auxiliary police that will be activated to manage the roads.
Besides watching star players Neymar and Keisuke Honda on the field, it might be worth observing Japanese fans for their good behaviour and etiquette, such as keeping rubbish in their own bags.
Mr Oon said: "It's a culture we should look to re-create. "If we don't take care of this venue, it will get old very fast and if trash builds up, rodents will come along.
"My message to fans is 'this is your home, maintain it the same way as your own place'."
This article was first published on October 12, 2014.
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