Best seats at S’pore National Stadium & ‘cats’ worth the money, according to concertgoers

Editor’s note: This article was first published on 27 June 2023. It has been updated with information from Taylor Swift’s 2024 ‘The Eras Tour’ in Singapore.

This piece is part of MS Explains, a segment where we provide clarity to common or key topics, making them easier to digest.

What are the best concert seats at the National Stadium?

The whole of Singapore has been in a tizzy with the number of international stars who have come to perform at the National Stadium in recent months.

British rock band Coldplay played six shows in January this year, and now, American pop star Taylor Swift is in the thick of her ‘The Eras Tour’ in Singapore.

In May last year, K-pop girl group Blackpink sold out its concert in Singapore, too.

For huge names, tickets sell out in the blink of an eye, and those new to buying tickets may find the whole process overwhelming.

Ideally, fans would want spots closer to the stage, but not everyone may be able to afford those or enjoy standing. So, what else should they look out for when buying tickets?

We’ve gathered information from concertgoers’ experiences and identified what they claim to be the best seats at the National Stadium.

Breakdown of concert zoning at the National Stadium

The National Stadium is the largest concert venue in Singapore with a seating capacity of 55,000 people.

Since its opening in 2014, the venue has played host to countless events from the Rugby 7s to concerts by acts such as BTS, Backstreet Boys and Madonna, among others.

Coldplay and Taylor Swift have since joined this portfolio of international stars to have performed at the National Stadium.

Generally, tickets for concerts at the National Stadium can be divided into two broad categories — standing and seated.

Within these categories, concert organisers can break the ticket types down further.

Seating plans & ticket prices for Taylor Swift, Coldplay & Blackpink shows

Swift’s The Eras Tour in March 2024 had six VIP sections with prices ranging from S$328 to S$1,228.

The most expensive of these tickets belong to the VIP 1 ‘seats’, which are located closest to the stage.

VIP 2 (S$728) and CAT 1 (S$348) ticket holders flank either side of the stage and are located behind the VIP 1 concertgoers.

Apart from the VIP sections, there are 12 other ‘cats’ with CAT 9 tickets being the cheapest of the lot at S$88.

Concertgoers with CAT 9 tickets have a “restricted view” with seats practically located behind the stage.

Like the Taylor Swift seating plan, the 2023 Blackpink concert also had different “pens” within the standing zone.

Those closer to the stage get a better chance to see their idols up close, or may even get to interact with them.

Of course, they paid one of the highest rates — S$398 for Cat 1 and S$328 for Cat 2 Standing.

Meanwhile, Cat 4, 9, and 10 had the lowest-priced tickets at S$168, presumably due to their distance from the stage and restricted views.

For reference, the National Stadium covers an area of 75,000 square metres, so there can be a considerable distance between the spectators and the performers.

The Coldplay concert had a similar seating layout to Blackpink’s, although the band just had a general standing zone.

Meanwhile, the seating zone was broken down into nine “cats” with prices ranging from S$68 to S$298.

Unlike the Blackpink shows where the standing zone had the most expensive tickets, concertgoers paid the most for seats on either side of the stage.

These seats were located on the first “tier” of the National Stadium’s stands and presumably boast good views without having to jostle with the crowd in the standing zone.

CAT 1 & VIP 1 ticket holders’ views at ‘The Eras Tour’ in Singapore

That said, it’s hard to know what you’re signing up for without some visual reference.

Thankfully, some Swifties have shared their views from different sections of the National Stadium during the recent shows in Singapore in March.

One concertgoer with a CAT 1 ticket was in the standing zone of the stadium, behind the crowd of VIP1 ticket holders.

Meanwhile, another CAT 1 ticket holder was in the seated section on the side of the stage.

They provided sweeping views of the National Stadium before Swift’s arrival.

As for the most expensive section of Swift’s concert, which should ideally have the best ‘seats’ in the National Stadium, a VIP 1 ticket holder in the front-row saw Swift in her full glory.

However, other VIP 1 ticket holders who were further back in the pack shared similar views to CAT 1 ticket holders in the standing zone.

What does the view from ‘cheaper’ sections look like?

For those who might not be in the position to splurge hundreds of dollars for tickets, here are the views that cheaper tickets will get you.

Tickets under S$200 for Swift’s concert are as such:

• CAT 5 — S$168
• CAT 6 — S$108
• CAT 8 (Side view) — S$108
• CAT 9 (Restricted view) — S$88

One concertgoer posted their view from CAT 5 Section 617, which according to the seating chart, is located in the uppermost tier of the National Stadium.

They had a clear view of the large screen and a bird’s eye view of the stage. Though from their vantage point, Swift appeared small.

Meanwhile, another Swiftie who was seated in CAT 6 Section 643 had a view that wasn’t all too different — though there appeared to be a lighting structure blocking some parts of the two screens.

Those in CAT 8 however, did not have such a clear view due to their distance from the stage and the angle of their seats.

One concertgoer in CAT 8 Section 633 could barely glimpse the idol standing on stage, with only a view of screen.

Even so, the screen appeared to be quite small from where they were sitting.

The cheapest section of the lot — CAT 9 with a “restricted view” — had a somewhat similar view where one part of the main stage is blocked.

Views from different sections in the National Stadium for Blackpink

Other experienced concertgoers have previously shared their perspectives from their seats at the Blackpink concert.

In both Blackpink and Coldplay, the most expensive seats flank the sides of the stage.

While this was Cat 5 for Blackpink, the area is zoned as Cat 1 for the Coldplay concert.

One user was lucky enough to score a seat in the supposedly “best” zone during the Blackpink concert.

@frankbyocbc Concert hack: Great experience, more affordable and no need to ask people to put down their fan 😎👯‍♀️👯‍♀️ #fypsg #franktravels #blackpink #bornpinkworldtour #concert #kpop ♬ original sound – FRANK by OCBC

The concertgoer was seated “right at the side of the stage” — close enough for their camera to zoom in directly on the performers.

However, what’s even better is their view of the giant LCD screens.

At one point, Lisa appeared clear as day on the screen. At a S$328 price point, the view seemed like a decent tradeoff for the cost.

Meanwhile, another concertgoer opted for a slightly cheaper option in the zone above Cat 5.

She was in Section 416, which she had presumably paid S$278 for.

@samgyeopsalparty for coldplay concert reference 🤭 #coldplay #coldplayinsingapore #singapore #nationalstadium ♬ A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay

This concertgoer was slightly further from the stage, with a poorer view of the giant screens.

As such, she claimed she resorted to as much as a 19x zoom on her phone camera.

As it turns out, it’s possible to get a similar view at a much cheaper price — S$110 cheaper, in fact.

One concertgoer paid S$168 for a seat tucked in the topmost corner of the National Stadium.

@shiiiannn0 Im speaking so quickly i had very little footage because i was ~ in the moment ~ i was at the day 2 concert! 💓🖤🫡 #blackpink #blackpinksgday2 #bornpinksg #bornpink #blackpinkconcertsg #blackpinkofficial #blackpinkconcert ♬ Pretty Savage – BLACKPINK

However, her view didn’t seem all that bad, with sweeping scenes of the throngs of fans.

Decide if you want a front view of the concert

While the previous videos showed the view of the stage from the sides, some have also posted their experiences facing the stage head-on.

One concertgoer paid S$168 for a seat in Cat 10 at the Blackpink concert.

@therealslimriley Pretty satisfied with my $168 seat 🙃 #blackpink #blackpinkinyourarea #blackpinkconcert #blackpinksingapore2023 #blinks #cat10 #nationalstadiumsingapore #section147 #bornpink #bornpinkworldtour #bornpinksingapore #singapore #blackpinkconcertsg #nationalstadium ♬ original sound – lailee

Although they were quite a distance from the stage, their seats were elevated enough to view the performance comfortably.

While they had a clear view of the LCD screens, some shots were also partially blocked by a broadcast tower.

Of course, within each section, views will differ based on which row you choose.

Based on what we have seen, those who pick higher rows generally have better views of the performance.

That said, some concertgoers seem perfectly happy to secure a spot anywhere — so long as they get their hands on a ticket.

Based on all these experiences, we can somewhat gather that the seats at the side of the stage as well as those higher up in any section are the safest bets.

You can try your luck with the sections directly facing the stage but know that you might risk facing obstructions such as the broadcast towers.

Best seats at Singapore National Stadium according to concertgoers

With these big names coming to the National Stadium, concertgoers — regardless of experience — are rushing to book the best seats in their books.

While some prioritise proximity to their idols, others may just be happy to vibe with the music.

Of course, no matter where you stand or sit in the venue, you’ll be able to hear the artistes loud and clear.

For those who are gunning for tickets, just remember to keep an open mind — even if you don’t get your first-choice seats.

After all, the concert experience is what you make of it.

Also read: Public transport for the National Stadium plus other hacks: What a concert-goer should know for the best experience

Public transport for the National Stadium plus other hacks: What a concert-goer should know for the best experience

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Featured image adapted from @livenationsg on Twitter.