[RACE/CONCERT] Survival Guide to Singapore Grand Prix 2015 : Running around the Grid

Very much late post to the 2015 SG Grand Prix Night Race. The year 2015 had Pharell Williams (Fri), Maroon 5 (Sat) and Bon Jovi (Sun) as the headliners of the concert.

More than 7 months of waiting, it's finally the Grand Prix. Though the motivating power to go it is the concert rather than the race, but since we were there might as well watch the race.


Going around the area 
Since we got the bay grandstand ticket, this post will be around the said ticket.


Padang area (Zone 4)
The coyote stage is just across, so if there are acts prior to the concert, you can probably hear it.

What privilege does the ticket get? 
Entrance only to zone 3,4 and 8 ( so there'll be no access in other gates )
Get to sit at the seating gallery at the marina bay floating platform ( just across Makansutra, since they sealed off some of the passage, you can only go as much)



Getting Food before entering the Grand Prix grounds
We tend to just eat anything new, thus we just headed to CityLink mall to get some grub.
You can try other food at the Esplanade mall (Thai Express, Harry's,etc)  and Makansutra.

Going to GP by MRT 

To the Concert Grounds ( Gate 3 )
Enter by Gate 3 at City Hall MRT ( though there'll be a lot of people entering from this end). If you don't mind the walk and sight see on the grounds try to go by (Gate 8). It has lesser people and you get to see a bunch of things along the way

To the Bay Grandstand Seats (Gate 8) 
The nearest gate to go to where grandstand seats is in Gate 8.

Upon reaching the gate, they'll be a round of inspection.  To avoid the hassle, better just to bring you, a fan, wallet, towelette, 1 bottled water not more than 600ml, and tickets to the Grand Prix.

Bringing in Food and Drinks 
They'll be inspecting the bags. On the guide, you can bring in 1 clear bottle, 600ml of water to the grounds.
Looking at the prices at the stall for those finger foods, it's around $6, and $7 ( Typical bar range prices). Bottled water are sold at $3 ( Which is just about the same price as the drinks sold at the zoo) and soft drinks at $4.

About the Seats
Seats in the light green block ( we got row 21 seats 49-50 ) was not that bad, as the race cars turn at this block and they tend to slow down. If your phone has an FM Receiver, Tune in to 102FM for some live commentaries. Although the ground got some commentaries, when the cars passed by, the sounds are muzzled so we can't really here anything.


About the Final Day of the Race
The parade on the last day was better seen on ground level than on seats, they'll be going around the circuit grid ( slowly) so to catch a better glimpse of the drivers head on to the viewing platform first, your seats will always stay there.

Going Home by MRT
Although exit A conaught drive exit at City hall mrt is the most convenient way to go to and from the concert grounds at Padang. It tends to get congested, thus it's best to take the alternate route. From the concert ground, always turn right ( direction to go to Raffles mrt ), you'll either end up at zone 5 exit  at Raffles or zone 8 at Marina Square. We didn't manage to get to the exit by walking on the race tracks.

The MRT is extended until the end of concert.
1.30am ( Friday ) ( East - West Line )
1.25am ( Saturday )
1.10am ( Sunday )

In case the route to exit to ACM is closed, find an alternate entrance to the MRT ( they'll just be scattered around the area). The route is to the exit of the concert grounds(main exit),  and then turn right, and  head straight till you reach the end ( they'll be road blocks to guide you to the mrt or just follow the crowd ). We walked by what looks like a small tunnel ( makeshift one ) and reach ACM afterwards ( you'll see Raffles statue there)

The tunnel exit from Esplanade Theatres is also closed at this timing , thus the convenient way is to go by marina square exit through Gate 8 Exit.





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