Major upgrades underway at Bishan Stadium ahead of AFC Champions League Two final

SINGAPORE: The stage is being set for a historic night for Singapore football at Bishan Stadium, where the Lion City Sailors will take on United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah FC in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two final on Sunday (May 18).

It marks the first time a Singaporean football club has reached a major continental final. Tickets sold out just a day after going on sale.

The Sailors have the chance to seal an unprecedented double, after they were crowned Singapore Premier League champions on Saturday.

But before eager fans make their way to the stadium this weekend, it is undergoing urgent upgrades to meet the standards required to host the match.

These improvements include building three new stands to increase its capacity by more than three times to accommodate about 10,000 spectators.  

More than 100 people have been working to get the venue ready since it was given the provisional green light on Apr 25 to host the final, which was meant to be played in the 55,000-seater National Stadium. However, the date clashed with Lady Gaga's Mayhem concert.

Second-choice Jalan Besar Stadium was not approved after Sharjah FC raised concerns about pitch quality and crowd capacity.

Other upgrades to Bishan Stadium include bringing over seats for the dugout from the National Stadium, enhancing floodlights for broadcast requirements, and turfing up parts of the track.

New lockers have also been fitted in the air-conditioned away dressing room.

The Sailors’ head of operations Carolyn Chia called it a “combined effort from all of Singapore … to make sure we give a good show for the final”.

“Organising the finals in Singapore is definitely a boost for the players and for the fans as well. It is very accessible, and