Lion City Sailors get provisional approval to host Asian Champions League 2 final at Bishan Stadium

SINGAPORE – The Lion City Sailors have been granted provisional approval to host the Asian Champions League Two (ACL 2) final against Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates at the Bishan Stadium, the Singapore Premier League (SPL) side announced in a media statement on April 23.

This is subject to a final inspection and formal approval by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in early May, ahead of the showpiece on May 18 (8pm).

In the statement, the Sailors added: “Over the next few weeks, the club will be working closely with Sport Singapore, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and sports industry experts to make the necessary upgrades and preparations to ensure the venue is match-ready for the big night on May 18.”

When pressed for details, a Sailors spokesman said the upgrades include enhancements to floodlights to meet TV broadcast requirements, significantly increasing the seating capacity and improvements to the natural grass pitch.

According to the 2021 edition of the AFC Stadium Regulations, a horizontal illuminance – the amount of light that falls on a horizontal surface – of 1,800 lux is required for the final of the AFC Cup, the ACL 2’s predecessor, while 1,400 lux is sufficient for the competition’s earlier stages.

Temporary stands will also be erected at the Bishan Stadium, whose only permanent main stand can hold only about 2,800 spectators. During the 2015 SEA Games, temporary stands had raised the stadium’s capacity to about 6,000.

The Sailors are also working on an enhanced match-day experience for fans, with mobile food trucks and a carnival planned outside the stadium.

“While we acknowledge the quick turnaround time, we are confident that we will have the necessary upgrades done in time to host a final worthy of the occasion,” added the spokesman. “The team is fully