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The Singapore National Stadium is located in Kallang. Opened in July 1973, the National Stadium was closed on 30 June 2007 and was scheduled to be demolished to make way for the Singapore Sports Hub which is expected to be built in 2014.

Facilities

The National Stadium consists of an eight-lane running track and football field in addition to other miscellaneous facilities such as table tennis tables, a weights room and an auditorium which is housed underneath the spectator stands.

While the facilities were often used for high-profile sporting events, the general public and other local organizations also use them for a nominal fee. For instance, when not otherwise used, the running track could be used by joggers for a reasonable fee of S$0.50 per entry.

History

Conceptualisation

One of the final football games played at Kallang, June 2007

After the Second World War (late 40s), Singapore as a developing nation crucially needed a respectable sports stadium for national and international events.

Possible sites were carefully determined and pre-selected during the 1950s. One of the popular choices was Kallang Park as it was situated as an existing sports facilities in the immediate vicinity.

In August 1965, planning on the preliminary design of the stadium had began. By the end of that same year, considerable progress could be seen. Then, Minister Othman Wok officially announced the Government's intention to proceed with the construction of a National Stadium of Olympic standard at Kallang as the first phase of the National Sports Complex. The Minister told Parliament that the National Stadium would give a tremendous boost to the promotion of sports in the country and would help improve the Republic's image in international sports.

Adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Stadium,_Singapore

Redevelopment

Plans have been made to demolish the stadium and build the multi-purpose Singapore Sports Hub in its place. In fact, demolition works were expected to begin in the second half of 2007. As replacement,  a new  Sports Hub was planned to be completed in 2012. 

The 2007 ASEAN Football Championship was the last major event held at the National Stadium before its redevelopment.

Closure

A closing ceremony titled Field of Dreams – A Tribute to the National Stadium was held at the National Stadium on 30 June 2007. 45,000 people attended the event, composing of Singapore cabinet members and President S R Nathan himself. It was also joined by famous athletes. Before the start of the ceremony, a football match was played, featuring ex-internationals from Singapore and Malaysia like Quah Kim Song, T. Pathmanathan, Samat Allapitchay, V. Sundramoorthy, David Lee, Dollah Kassim, Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, Chow Siew Wai and K. Gunalan.