Anyone who’s driven along Nicoll Highway and East Coast Parkway in the past four years has likely seen the hulking dome at the Singapore Sports Hub slowly coming together – this month, the massive enclosure is finally open for business, hosting the World Club 10s rugby tournament at the new 55,000 seat National Stadium, along with the launch of an adjoining three-storey mall called Kallang Wave – named after the classic crowd gesture seen at football matches during Singapore’s footballing heydays.
The mall’s design also features some wave-like contours, plus a rooftop water park and even a vertical playground for climbing enthusiasts. Store-wise, there’s a mix of big brands like Uniqlo, Forever 21 and H&M, plus a special sporting cluster with shops like Hoops, Outdoor Sports Travel, Power Up Express, Runnur and Sports Link. There’s also a Fairprice Xtra (with a bigger sports slant), and a range of food options, from the typical Burger King and Popeyes to A-One Claypot and Curry Times. For a proper sit-down meal, there’s Astons, Manhattan Fish Market, Poulet and IsshoIzakaya. If you’re planning to visit just to shop, be careful when you use the mall’s name with cabbies (or you may end up at Kallang Way, closer to Aljunied than the stadium).
The existing Indoor Stadium will be incorporated into the overall Sports Hub, which will also feature an additional indoor venue, the OCBC Arena (capacity 3,000), the OCBC Aquatic Centre, featuring a regulation competition pool and several training pools that will be open to the public, as well as a water sports centre along Kallang Basin with facilities for dragon boating, kayaking and canoeing. A sports museum and library have been announced for the area as well.