New Indoor Stadium rule: No going out

Filled with boredom when your favourite band decides to play one of their new 17-minute "experimental" songs? Nodding off at a tedious badminton match?

From now on, spectators at the Singapore Indoor Stadium will no longer be able to nip out of the building, to take a breath of fresh air, for example.

The new rule posted on Facebook recently by the Singapore Sports Hub, which manages the Singapore Indoor Stadium, means that crowd members will not be allowed to leave the building once an event has started.

Banners bigger than 1m by 2m or placards larger than A4 size are also outlawed - so those wanting to tell their favourite boyband members they love them will have to stand close to the stage.

Last Saturday's gig by South Korean pop group Infinite was the first to be affected by the rules.

Singapore Sports Hub's managing director Mark Collins said the rule barring re-entry was introduced to address public safety issues.

"Once they leave the building, we no longer are in control of their activities. They could go out and get drunk, or give their ticket to someone who does not have it."

But he added that staff will make exceptions in "acceptable circumstances such as getting medicine from the car".

Concert promoters and organisers have questioned the rules and called for more flexibility.

Midas Promotions director Steven Woodward said: "They have to inform the public adequately, and explain what the safety issues are exactly for there to be a blanket ban. Most people would accept it if it's a 90-minute concert. But if it's a long-running event and patrons have no option but to remain in the premises, that could turn people off."

Rock Records managing director Ngiam Kwang Hwa said fans should not have their movements restricted since they paid to "have a good time".

Concertgoers gave a mixed response. Lab technician Fizza Wirda, 23, said: "What if someone has to really go out? We already paid for it, and we have a seat number on the ticket. It's quite ridiculous."

limyihan@sph.com.sg

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