The Float @ Marina Bay – historical stadium description

The Float @ Marina Bay was an unusual multi-purpose facility that was located on the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore's Downtown Core. It consisted of a large grandstand for 27,000 spectators, located on the mainland, and a floating platform on the water that could accommodate a full-sized football field or set up a concert stage.

The platform was built between 2006 and 2007 in connection with the closure of the old National Stadium. It was intended as a temporary structure to take over the organization of Singapore's annual National Day Parade and other events – until the new National Stadium opened.

It was originally planned that the platform would be dismantled after just five years, in 2012, but it has survived much longer. What's more, it turned out that the unusual structure was quite a good idea, and it successfully hosted not only the National Day Parade, but also New Year's Eve celebrations, football games and concerts.

In addition, in front of the grandstand ran a section of the circuit, where Formula One (Singapore Grand Prix) took place. The Float @ Marina Bay also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first edition of the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

By its unusual appearance and character, and thanks to its unique location in the center of Singapore, with views of skyscrapers, the venue has often been ranked as one of the most unusual stadiums in the world.

In 2017, the NS Square project was announced – a new facility to be built in place of and similar to The Float @ Marina Bay – with a floating platform and a grandstand located on the land. NS Square is supposed to be permanent, larger and more spectacular than its predecessor.

The old The Float @ Marina Bay was finally demolished in late 2023 and early 2024, and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new NS Square was held on March 19, 2024. The facility should be ready in 2027.