S'pore F1 promoters looking at leasing strategic locations

There has been strong demand for the corporate hospitality suites which will be set up for the Singapore F1 race later this year.

About three quarters of these suites, as well as the Paddock Club tickets, have been taken up.

To capitalise on this, organisers Singapore GP is looking to rent out other choice locations along the track to provide more viewing options.

These include a strategic venue along the race route - the Singapore Cricket Club.

"No timeline has been fixed but they have made offers to us. They have given us various options and we are considering it. But we are nowhere near concluding it... the door is still open for negotiations," said Anwarul Haque, president of the Singapore Cricket Club.

And up for discussion is the upper terrace which can accommodate up to 300 people. For this location, the club president added that Singapore GP plans to charge close to S$7,000 per head.

The Singapore Cricket Club is not the only location along trackside that the race promoters have approached. Other venues include the Singapore Recreation Club and the Boat House at the Fullerton, but nothing is confirmed at the moment.

What is certain, however, is that the adjoining Padang will also be leased by the race organisers. Part of it will be turned into a grandstand that can seat 12,000 spectators while the rest of the Padang will be converted into a carnival ground.

Some have other bright ideas to cash in on the world's first night street race in Singapore.

"A lot of people are thinking of locations far away from the F1 track, so that you can give an experience of Singapore which is totally different from the usual busy city life Singapore. (Locations) as far as Seletar are being considered, and Changi as well," said Anand Vathiyar, Executive Director of UP Media.

Vathiyar claimed that a few very high-end places are already organising viewing parties far away from the track, and the cost per guest is likely to be around S$2,000.

And that is the price guests will pay for a 5-star treatment to view the race, minus the deafening noise of the F1 cars