Sports Hub ‘will prove a success at SEA Games’

SINGAPORE — After glitches that have hogged headlines since the Sports Hub opened its doors six months ago, SportsHub Pte Ltd (SHPL) chairman Mark Woodhams acknowledged the SHPL’s communication with various stakeholders, including the Government and public, could have been better over various issues including the state of the National Stadium’s pitch.

Despite criticism levelled at SHPL, including by the Government, the consortium is confident of delivering success. Mr Woodhams, speaking in separate meetings with various local media channels yesterday, said the mega-complex would meet all expectations for June’s SEA Games.

SHPL has rolled out 62 events, 38 of which were sports, at the Hub since last June, but they were overshadowed by the poor quality of the National Stadium’s Desso Grassmaster pitch. Leakage to the dome roof during Taiwanese singer Jay Chou’s concert last month added to the setbacks.

Mr Woodhams said these two issues are being resolved, adding that no sports event would be conducted on the Desso Grassmaster surface — a mixture of natural grass and artificial fibres — anymore. Instead, it will serve as a sub-surface for natural grass — grown at an off-site nursery — to be laid over it. “We will replace the (natural grass) only when it deteriorates, lay a new pitch and keep it going for as long as we can until it deteriorates again,” said Mr Woodhams. “We can partially or wholly replace it as we have another pitch outside.”

Flanked by CEO Philippe Collin Delavaud and chief operating officer Oon Jin Teik, the SHPL chairman reiterated that all new structures, especially one as complex as the Hub, face initial glitches.

Said Mr Woodhams: “This is the world’s largest integrated sports and lifestyle hub. We have a unique cluster of venues for community and sports events. It is certainly visionary and groundbreaking, and we are very proud of what we have achieved.

“But pushing those boundaries means it has been difficult for us to foresee every eventuality. Clearly, there have been teething problems and we are sorry for those whose experience at the venue has fallen short of their expectations.”

In a three-way competition, SHPL won a contract from the Government in 2007 to finance, build and operate the Hub over a 25-year period in what has been dubbed the world’s largest public-private partnership. That relationship seemed strained in the past few months, especially after the consortium was rebuked publicly for its shortcomings by Sport Singapore.

However, Mr Woodhams said as the Hub is one of the SHPL consortium partners’ most important investments globally, they never had second thoughts about the partnership and understood the Government’s reaction to their shortcomings, which they seek to address.

“It’s fair to say standards are very high in Singapore. If you look at the quality of events hosted here such as F1, there are high expectations of excellence,” he said. “We strive for that, but where we fell short, it was definitely picked up and highlighted.”

Sport Singapore did not respond to Mr Woodhams’ comments. But he said close cooperation is key to the Government and SHPL realising their long-term investment in the project.

“The only way this project will be a success for us is if it is also a success for the Government. Our objectives are entirely aligned and this is one of the benefits of procuring the project as a PPP,” said Mr Woodhams. “We must make sure we have open, frank and regular communication with the Government at all levels, so we understand each other’s needs and constraints.”

Key areas of improvement

- Stadium roof leak at Jay Chou concert: A protocol will be in place to inform spectators of the risk of rain. All affected patrons will be compensated. Additional flashing (rain deviator) to be installed on the roof.

- National Stadium pitch: A natural pitch — grown in a nursery — will be laid ahead of the SEA Games. Artificial lights will also be used. A larger pitch will be maintained as a back-up and for sports requiring a larger surface.

- Rescheduling of stadium events: SHPL does not foresee further cancellations.

- Ticket prices: Although determined by event organisers, tickets will be kept affordable for sports events featuring Team Singapore athletes.

- Managing human and traffic flow: SHPL will work with the authorities and partners to improve traffic flow.