SINGAPORE — Since its opening in June 2014, the S$1.33 billion Singapore Sports Hub has hit a number of speed bumps in its quest to become a world-class sports and entertainment venue.

First on its list of teething issues was the sandy grass pitch at the National Stadium that drew flak from international football teams and fans — the Desso GrassMaster pitch was eventually replaced by a lay-and-play solution. Then a roof leak at the National Stadium during a Jay Chou concert in 2014 left some fans drenched during a rainstorm.

While the hardware problems were fixed, its sports schedule was hit by organisers pulling their events out of the stadium — or considering alternative venues — because of a number of factors that included rental costs, and conversion costs for transforming the stadium from football to athletics mode. Negotiations between the various parties eventually saw the 2016 National Day Parade and Asia Masters Athletics Championships confirmed for the stadium this year.

With the Sports Hub’s woes dominating headlines, Manu Sawhney, CEO of SportsHub Pte Ltd, says winning over Singaporean fans is the priority.

“It’s fair to say some of it (the criticism of the Hub) is sheer perception, rather than reality,” said Sawhney, who took on the role last October. “That is our absolute aim (to change fans’ perceptions) — the fact of the matter is that this is one of the world’s finest facilities being created. Did we have issues (with the pitch) a year back? Yes, but look at it now. Over the last seven months we had all the various World Cup qualifying matches … the Barclays Asia Trophy, SEA Games, and the ASEAN Para Games. It has really been able to prove that it (the pitch) is robust, reliable … we feel fairly confident in being able to give a good experience to the fans.”

Yesterday’s announcement of the landmark partnership between the Sports Hub and Rugby Singapore for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which will see both parties working together to deliver a world-class experience for fans, could also go some way in convincing other organisers to consider the Hub for their events. Added Sawhney: “We want to set a relationship where it’s not just sheer cost, but the potential of what needs to built and what needs to be looked at. As we learn and as we move forward, we are very committed towards making this a world-renowned facility.”

According to Sawhney, the consortium is also looking to build a “robust” calendar of events for the future to add to its rugby season — comprising the World Sevens Series and Super Rugby team Sunwolves from March to May — including bringing in innovative ones with a “very unique proposition”.

“I am very optimistic that in years to come this (Sports Hub) will become a kind of benchmark for various other facilities to look at across the region,” he said. LOW LIN FHOONG