Rough Guide to Surviving National Stadium for Swifties (and Other Concertgoers

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.”

“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!”