Top image: Lucas Law/Unsplash.
T-Day (or T-Week?) is here. Taylor Swift is in the midst of her record-breaking Eras Tour in Singapore, having just performed two out of six days at the National Stadium as of writing.
With 50,000 Swifties gathering in faith every night—having begun last Saturday (Mar 2) and continuing for three more nights—it’s an intimidating task for those who are new to large-scale events like these.
Not least when these concert nights are specifically star-studded: celebrities are aplenty at these shows, and you’ll undoubtedly be amongst the starry-eyed who’ll rush for a glimpse of Blackpink’s Lisa or even actor Barry Keoghan, both of whom have been spotted at the venue thus far.
Singapore isn’t hard to get around (just ask Taylor’s mum). But the National Stadium might prove to be a different beast on hectic nights like these. We ask concertgoers—Swifties, Swift-gnostics, or otherwise—about their experience at this storied venue and what they can offer as advice to those still working out their strategies ahead.
Plus, after this Season of Swift, it’s not over: Bruno Mars is coming next month.
“When it comes to logistics, always read the event guide, which will list out exactly what you can or cannot bring and do. For example, lots of metal things are not allowed in—bottles and, for the most recent Taylor Swift show I went for, even Chanel bags with metal chains were not allowed.
As someone with anxiety, I try to mentally prepare whenever I’m going to a super-packed concert. Have a calm and relaxed morning; pack and check your bag in advance. And pack light!
Some things I can’t live without when going to a gig are my asthma inhaler, my Poysian nasal inhaler and a portable mini fan—so I guess the most important part is to remember to breathe easy.
I think, if anything, people assume the worst when it comes to big gigs at the National Stadium. But I do believe we have fantastic crowd control pre-, during and post-concert. So my main tip is to take public transport on gig day! Take it from me, I’m a chronic Grab/TADA/Gojek user, but with the MRT station just outside the stadium, just take it to the station nearest to your house and then you can ride share from there.”
— Julia, 34
Last visited National Stadium for Taylor Swift, 3 Mar 2024
“If you’re driving, prepare to go at least three hours before showtime to secure a parking lot at the malls. To get out quickly after the show, park either near the exits or in the direction of the exits.
There are plenty of F&B options around Kallang, but be prepared to queue. To beat the queue, be early. (Same as getting a parking space.)
NTUC Fairprice Xtra at Sports Hub is a good choice if you don’t like to queue. There’s a deli with hot food and supermarket sushi.
If you don’t like to pay for parking, the street-side lots at Geylang are free after 5 PM. From there, it’s a short 10-15 minute walk to the stadium. If someone spots your car along the dodgy lorongs, just say you’re there for Coldplay/Ed Sheeran/Jay Chou/Taylor Swift, etc.
Bonus tip, you’ll pass by plenty of supper spots in Geylang while walking back to your car after the gig!”
— Dylan, 45
Last visited National Stadium for Taylor Swift, 2 Mar 2024
“Bring water and a mini fan if possible. Find a friend and follow them—and also study the layout of the stadium!
But I would say the biggest lesson I’ve learned, as someone who’s 1.54m tall, is to not get expensive standing pit tickets if you’re short! I wish I got a seat instead because being in the pit really ruined my experience. It was so pricey too. Otherwise, get tall platform boots.
Also, try not to be on your phone videoing the whole time because you most likely won’t even watch those after a while. Enjoy the experience!”
— Zamiya, 20
Last visited National Stadium for Blackpink, 13 May 2023
“The thing about National Stadium is that it’s come a pretty long way. Even though this is the place where Michael Jackson performed ages ago, post-renovation National Stadium has been tricky. You can find complaints online about several shows it had not long after it reopened.
I went to see Madonna and got a complimentary ticket that was priced at S$688 (!), and it was like I had been watching from a nearby building. Since then, however, I think they’ve stepped up in making it more concert-friendly. I’ve seen Coldplay, U2 and Foo Fighters there and all those concerts were as good as it gets in a massive place like that.
Even if Taytay plays a song on acoustic guitar without a band, you’re gonna hear echoes and annoying fans screaming all the way. Don’t worry about where you’re seated (or standing)—just enjoy the fact that you’re there.
Now, getting around the National Stadium doesn’t exactly require experience: just a lot of patience. Queues will be a long wait, and I don’t doubt that many Swifties will be willing to wait as long as they did for tickets. However, I will say—as someone who always needs convenient toilet access—that you can’t rely on National Stadium toilets. That’s what Kallang Wave is for. And while you’re there, it’s better to fill up at a Burger King or something because stadium food is notoriously pricey.
Also, our public transport is great. But again, it’s about patience. Our trains and buses won’t break down (fingers crossed!) but it will be a bit of a task wading through the crowds. The one thing I always go for after any concert is a bottle of 100 Plus. I’m not a spokesperson for any of these brands/places I talk about—I’m just constantly dehydrated. And being hydrated will get you through the hardest crowds.”
— Terence, 29
Last visited National Stadium for U2, 30 Nov 2019
“Fans! Like, the portable fans because it gets hawt.
I feel like the only tip I would give is to get through security as quickly as possible. Make sure your bottle is empty, wear something easy so you don’t have to take them off. Try to pee ahead of the concert because toilet queues are crazy long.
Be sure to search online to take a peek at the merch they’ll be selling there. There’s no point if you go there to queue (and the queue is long!) but then you don’t even like the merch when you reach the front hahaha
Post-concert, just do your best to get out of the stadium and make your dinner plans anywhere else but there. The crowd is insane.
You can check for those transports available from Gojek/Grab because they usually cater for big concerts. I’ve heard there are even free shuttle buses at the Taylor Swift shows.”
— Farah, 29
Last visited National Stadium for Coldplay, 27 Jan 2024
