The Float @ Marina Bay

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The Float at Marina Bay
滨海湾体育场
Singapore (SG), The Float @ Marina Bay and Bay Grandstand -- 2019 -- 4713.jpg
The Float at Marina Bay in 2019.
Full nameThe Float@Marina Bay
Address20 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039805
LocationMarina Bay, Central Region, Singapore
Coordinates1°17′18″N 103°51′32″E / 1.28833°N 103.85889°E / 1.28833; 103.85889Coordinates: 1°17′18″N 103°51′32″E / 1.28833°N 103.85889°E / 1.28833; 103.85889
Public transit CC4  DT15  Promenade
OwnerSport Singapore
OperatorSport Singapore
Capacity27,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundMarch 2006; 15 years ago (2006-03)
Opened20 May 2007; 14 years ago (2007-05-20)
ArchitectDefence Science and Technology Agency
Tenants
Sport Singapore

The Float at Marina Bay, stylised as The Float@Marina Bay and also known as the Marina Bay Floating Platform, is a multi-purpose outdoor venue at Marina Bay, Singapore. The venue consists of a 120 by 83 m (394 by 272 feet) steel platform in the Marina Reservoir, and a 27,000-seat grandstand along the shore. The floating platform can bear up to 1,070 tonnes, equivalent to the total weight of 9,000 people, 200 tonnes of stage props and three 30-tonne military vehicles.[1][2][3]

The Float was built in 2007 as an interim venue for events usually held at the National Stadium in Kallang while it was being rebuilt as part of the Singapore Sports Hub project—including sporting events (such as football),[4] concerts, arts and cultural performances, and festivities such as the National Day Parade (NDP). It forms part of the Marina Bay Street Circuit that hosts Formula One's Singapore Grand Prix, and hosted the ceremonies of the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. Since 2010, The Float has hosted the graduation parade for full-time National Servicemen who had completed their basic military training.[5] The Float has also hosted New Year's Eve and Lunar New Year events.

The Float was initially intended as a temporary venue, but the NDP was only held at the new National Stadium once in 2016—a decision that received mixed reception for its different atmosphere, and increased costs of the event over those held at The Float. In 2017, it was announced that The Float would remain the primary venue for the NDP (outside of those held at the Padang every five years), and that The Float will be renovated as a permanent venue known as NS Square—which will expand upon The Float and include a museum devoted to the national service of Singapore.

History[]

The Float@Marina Bay is the dark quadrilateral at foreground right of this view of Marina Bay from the Singapore Flyer.

The idea of a floating platform was conceived by the organising committee of the 2007 National Day Parade. In 2004, Colonel Teo Jing Siong, the chairman of the committee, was asked to source for a new venue for the National Day Parade as the National Stadium would be demolished to make way for the new Singapore Sports Hub. Teo had considered Jalan Besar Stadium, the Singapore Turf Club and Marina South before settling on Marina Bay, partly because of the city skyline that would form a backdrop for the parade. The government evaluated that the temporary stadium was a cost effective solution in lieu of the closure of the National Stadium that is under renovation for 8 years.[3][6]

In 2005, Teo's committee worked with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Singapore Sports Council on the design of the floating platform, which could also be used to host other major events.[6] After the design was finalised, the contractor, Sembcorp Marine,[2][7] started construction of the floating platform in March 2006. The stage took 13 months to build, and by April 2007, the platform and seating gallery were completed and officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.[6]

The Float was originally intended to operate through 2012, after which it was to be dismantled. In 2017, it was announced that The Float would be expanded and redeveloped as a permanent venue known as NS Square.[8] It will be a similar floating structure but with more facilities and a museum devoted to the national service.[9] It is slated to have a seating capacity of about 30,000. In the second quarter of 2020, it is estimated a design proposal will be chosen for implementation.[10] The proposal is expected to include a field that can be converted into a performance area, a waterfront sports facility, and a space for common exercise consisting of an unenclosed hall and studio spaces.[10]

Design[]

The 27,000-capacity grandstand and floating platform of The Float@Marina Bay, with the Singapore Flyer in the background.

Many considerations were taken into account during the design phase for the construction of the floating platform. The Defence Science and Technology Agency, the platform's chief planner and developer, had to keep in mind not just its size and the load it could bear, but also make sure the structure can be relocated and reconfigured to meet the requirements of different events.[2]

As a result, the platform is made of smaller platforms of pontoons, each comprising hundreds of parts. 200 pontoons were envisioned, but a unique system of connectors allowed this number to be reduced to 15, which interlock like a jigsaw puzzle. These took one month to assemble. The connectors were designed to be light but robust.[2]

Six pylons fixed into the seabed act as the structure's foundation. Heavy-duty rubber rollers were used to gently guide the stage vertically to keep it from being rocked by tides and currents. Three linkways, which connect the floating platform to the land, have special integrated joints to keep them steady.[2]

The floating platform also had to be aesthetically pleasing to fit the scenic backdrop of the belt of hotels in Marina Centre. This limited the height of the seating gallery. The existing structures and the area's development plans capped the number of seats at 27,000. The platform has also been equipped with numerous innovative features, like an internal drainage system, cabling structures and lightning rods.[2]

Events[]

Since its completion in 2007, the Marina Bay Floating Platform has hosted several major events, such the annual National Day Parade, New Year's Eve countdown event, 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and the Formula One. The first major event that was held at the floating stadium is the National Day Parade in 2007.[11] This was followed by the Singapore Fireworks Celebrations held on 17 and 18 August 2007.[12] On 25 August 2007, the stadium was used to launch the six-week-long Waterfest Singapore 2007, which showcases stunts and performances by a water ski team and wakeboard professionals.[13] On 2 September 2007, the platform was the start and finish point for the Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore triathlon.[3][14]

The Float@Marina Bay viewed from the Helix Bridge.

From 15 September 2007 to 16 April 2008, The Float was closed for Formula One works in preparation for the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2008. In November 2008, The Singapore Cup final between SAFFC and Woodlands Wellington FC was supposed to take place at the stadium. However, problems relating to the metal beams casting a shadow on the pitch forced the match to be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium instead. The first football match to be played on the platform was a Sunday League ESPZEN amateur match between Tuan Gemuk Athletic and VNNTU FC.[15] The Urban Redevelopment Authority had explored the area of making the 30,000-seat gallery available for the public to view fireworks during the New Year's Eve at Marina Bay in December 2007, and following that it also used this stadium in each of the countdown parties till 2015 and shifted to Suntec City, before being shifted to The Promontory @ Marina Bay, as well as Stars Avenue.

In August 2010, The Float hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. On 2 October 2010, the stadium became the first public venue for the graduation parade of the recruits from the Singapore Armed Forces Basic Military Training Centre. Previously, the graduation parade was held on Pulau Tekong itself.[5] Since then, the stadium has been a venue for the graduation parade, alternating with the National Stadium.[16]

On 23 November 2012, SM Entertainment artists including Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, Shinee, f(x), and EXO performed to a crowd of 18,000 fans as part of their SM Town Live World Tour III concert.[17]

The Singapore National Day Parade (NDP) has been held at The Float since 2007, except in years it is held at the Padang (every five years beginning in 2010), and in 2016, when it was held at the new National Stadium.[18][19][20] With the announcement of the platform's redevelopment as NS Square, it was stated that The Float would remain the preferred venue for the parade when not held at the Padang.[9][21][8]

The Float@Marina Bay's grandstand

Gallery[]

  • The Float at Marina Bay hosting Singapore's 42nd National Day Parade on 9 August 2007.

  • The Float at Marina Bay in 2007, with the Singapore Flyer under construction in the background.

  • The Float at Marina Bay hosting the 2015 River Hongbao for Chinese New Year, with Marina Bay Sands in the background.

  • Singapore Armed Forces Basic Military Training passing out parade ceremony

  • The floating platform of the stadium, with Singapore's skyline in the background.

  • Grandstand of The Float at Marina Bay in 2019.

  • The Float at Marina Bay in 2019

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Liaw Wy-Cin (21 June 2007). "All parade tickets given out". The Straits Times. p. H3.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Brenda Goh (2007). "New stage for the bay". Voices@Central Singapore (36, September/October 2007): 24–25. ISSN 0219-6344.
  3. ^ a b c Tay Suan Chiang (19 August 2007). "Staying afloat". The Sunday Times. p. L7.
  4. ^ "Meet the world's largest floating football stadium". Digital Journal. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b "BMT Graduation Parade held at Marina Bay Floating Platform". Asia One. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Melissa Sim (12 August 2007). "He took NDP from land to water". The Sunday Times. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Many firsts this time". The Straits Times. 12 July 2007. p. H6.
  8. ^ a b "Marina Bay's floating platform to be 'primary venue' for future NDPs". TODAYonline. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Redeveloped Marina Bay floating platform to have water sports centre, NS-themed gallery". CNA. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b hermesauto (9 September 2019). "NS Square, to replace Marina Bay floating platform, slated for 2025 completion; platform to host NDP in 2020, 2021". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  11. ^ Liaw Wy-Cin (24 May 2007). "National Day will bring all things S'porean". The Straits Times. p. H5.
  12. ^ "Fireworks festival at Marina Bay floating platform from August 17–18". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  13. ^ "A splashing start to WaterFest". The Sunday Times. 26 August 2007. p. 34.
  14. ^ "WaterFest targets 33,000 this year". The Straits Times. 19 July 2007. p. H16.
  15. ^ "ESPZEN fixture information for first floating football match". ESPZEN. Archived from the original on 13 March 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  16. ^ "Marching to POP beat at National Stadium". The Straits Times. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Biggest K-Pop music event to be held in November". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  18. ^ "NDP 2017 to be held at Marina Bay Floating Platform: Ng Eng Hen". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  19. ^ "NDP 2015 to be held at Padang and Marina Bay floating platform". TODAY Online. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  20. ^ "NDP 2016: Show a treat, but new venue gets mixed reviews". TODAYonline. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  21. ^ "NDP 2017 returns to Marina Bay floating platform". The Straits Times. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

External links[]

None Summer Youth Olympics
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
2010 		Succeeded by
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