For former rugby player Kevin, seeing his son run onto the National Stadium pitch just a week after the Flying Fijians and Black Ferns were crowned HSBC SVNS Singapore champions would have sounded like a dream. On Saturday (Feb 8), that dream became reality when a rugby class organised by sports & fitness service provider Team Axis as part of The Kallang’s National Stadium Experience gave his son the chance to do just that.
“We signed him up because we knew he was interested, and he doesn’t play outside, so he’s been wanting to sign up,” the 39-year-old said.
Rugby Dreams Come True
With the National Stadium opening its doors to the public from Feb 5 to 22, a host of community programmes have been rolled out for the public to try. For Kevin, the experience will not be a one-off. He returned two weeks later, with his son enrolled in Team Axis’ tchoukball classes too.
For Japanese expatriate Aya, the rugby class offered her seven-year-old son a chance to reconnect with the sport after the family moved from Tokyo to Singapore in 2024.
“It is our first time at the National Stadium. He used to play rugby in Japan, so I wanted to sign him up for the class so he could play again,” she said.
Watching others rollerblade and skateboard along the Promenade at National Stadium has also prompted the family to consider returning to the precinct to try those activities in future.
Picking up a New Sport
The Teach a Child to Cycle workshop proved especially useful for Ryan, 42, who brought his daughter for what he described as her “first proper cycling lesson”, as she joined about 10 other children riding inside the National Stadium.
“The last National Stadium Experience had a similar workshop, but the slots were full, so I was glad to see it being held again,” said the director. “This is the first proper lesson for my daughter, as she previously cycled with training wheels.”
He added that past visits to the venue had already left an impression on his children.
“The last time we visited was also the first time the girls stepped onto the National Stadium grounds. They’ve been here to watch shows before, but that was their first time on the grass, and they were running around nonstop. I could tell they really enjoyed it,” he said.
“I enjoy coming here too, so it’s nice that they like it as well. Being able to learn cycling here is a good opportunity for them,” he added.
A Fan Favourite
Alongside the classes were ever-popular inflatable playgrounds, a board games zone and a crafts corner.
For Has and his two children, it marked their second time at the National Stadium Experience, after his kids had a ball on the bouncy castle the last time.
“They were really excited because they enjoyed it previously and wanted to come and play again,” said the manager. “It’s great that the public is allowed onto the pitch to enjoy the atmosphere.”
He also welcomed other activities available at the venue.
“I heard there’s a venue tour as well. It’s good because the public can see what goes on behind the scenes, including the locker rooms. It’s a good initiative,” he added.
Behind-the-Scenes Access
The 30-minute venue tours offer a guided experience that takes participants through the history of the National Stadium, along with exclusive access to areas of the facility that are usually closed to the public.
The tour proved a hit with Canadian tourist Amira and expatriate Nada, who stumbled upon it after the former wanted to visit the 55,000-seat stadium during her travels in Singapore.
“It was a really interesting tour, and I wanted to come here to see how big it is. I learned a lot about it,” said the human resources executive. “We do sports in our free time, so we felt it was important to visit the stadium.”
“I’ve never been in a players’ locker room before, so it was nice to get that kind of access. The guide tells the story well,” Nada added.
Alfred and his family of six also joined the tour after attending tchoukball classes.
“We walked past and saw that there was a tour. You don’t usually get a chance to see this, so we thought we’d try it out,” said the 46-year-old business operations executive. “We come here for football matches and concerts as well, so it’s an eye-opener to see the behind-the-scenes.”
The tour takes participants into the locker room, media areas and players’ tunnel.
Health and Fitness Fun
In collaboration with the Health Promotion Board, a FitCheck booth was also set up to allow the public to do a free body composition scan together with personalised fitness guidance.
Sam, 38, who visited on weekdays to exercise, was doing a HIIT class by the Promenade when he saw a sign about the fitcheck booth.
“It’s a good initiative, and they should do it more often,” he said, adding that it would be good for the National Stadium to be open to the public when there are no events.
Participants also received a healthy snack pack upon completion.
Cultural and Festive Highlights
The National Stadium experience also tapped into the festive spirit, featuring Valentine’s Day-themed activities for couples as well as a lion dance workshop ahead of the Lunar New Year.
Public servants Linda and Seetoh, who have been married for close to 40 years and practise yoga twice a week at The Kallang, were able to try their hand at couples yoga during the Feb 14 class held on the National Stadium pitch. There was also a HIIT class by Sunday Service and a laughter yoga and dance workout class by Dreams Workshop, conducted the following weekend.
“It’s our first time doing couples yoga in a long time. It’s a good feeling, we enjoy it. And we’ve been here for cardio classes as well,” the pair said, as they stayed on for the subsequent couples’ HIIT class.
As for operations director Caleb, the Lion Dance Presentation was the perfect opportunity for his five-year-old son to dip his hands into the cultural art form.
“He’s interested in lion dance, and we heard about this presentation through word of mouth. He’s been to performances before and wanted to come here to learn more about it.
“Here, he learnt about the history, and he’s really into it. I’m sure he’s very happy and said he wants to come again tomorrow.
“It’s good that it’s being held at The Kallang. It’s a really nice place to host this. The space is good and sheltered. The whole experience is educational, introducing people to lion dance and giving kids a chance to perform. It’s pretty cool.”
On the sidelines, the Families for Life (FFL) I Still Do! campaign gave couples and families the opportunity to celebrate love, commitment and marriage through hands-on craft workshops, including Valentine’s Day-themed paper rose activities and family-friendly shrink art sessions.
Movie Magic
Movie screenings were also screened during the event, featuring titles such as Mamma Mia!, Enchanted, Mulan, and Kung Fu Panda 4, with Families for Life distributing picnic mats so attendees could sit back and enjoy the show.
The movie screenings and inflatable playgrounds continued over the two-day Lunar New Year break (Feb 17–18), giving visitors a fun respite amid the festive celebrations, and providing a chill space for those who don’t observe the holiday.
A Children’s Entrepreneurship Fair also gave kids the chance to experience running a business, teaching them the value of money and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
Held across multiple evenings, a three-minute light and sound show on the iconic retractable roof of the National Stadium wowed visitors. The spectacular display featured animations set to popular hits, including Ophelia and Golden.
Be Part of What’s Next
As the final light beams danced across the National Stadium’s iconic retractable roof and families lingered on the pitch, it was clear that the National Stadium Experience had become more than just a series of programmes. It was a rare opportunity — to play where champions compete, to learn something new, to celebrate culture, and to simply spend unhurried time together in one of Singapore’s most recognisable spaces.
From rugby dreams realised on the pitch to first cycling lessons, behind-the-scenes tours, community workouts and festive celebrations, the experience transformed the stadium into something deeply personal for many who walked through its gates.
And while this edition may have drawn to a close, the spirit of the National Stadium Experience continues.
Stay tuned for updates on the next edition by visiting our website and following our social media channels. The stadium doors will open again — and when they do, there will be even more ways to play, discover and create memories at The Kallang.
