The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) is setting its sights on hosting major international events, including concerts by stars like Taylor Swift, with plans to build a 35,000-seater arena in Clark, Pampanga.
“We want to be able to host major international events—professional sports and bigger concerts like Coldplay or Taylor Swift. And we will be Taylor Swift-ready by 2028,” stated CIAC President Arrey Perez during the Build Better More Infrastructure Forum in New Clark City, Tarlac, on Friday.
Perez explained in an ABS-CBN News report that CIAC is awaiting proposals from private sector partners to fund the complex, which will include a convention center and a mall, through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
“It’s a huge undertaking. It’s 40 hectares and more than P30 billion, so we will really need the partnership with the private sector. We already did a lot of promotions, market sensing, market missions, and we’ve gotten some interest,” he said.
So far, three entities from Singapore, the US, and the Philippines have shown interest in the project, with some considering joint ventures.
Perez highlighted the strategic location of the future Clark Arena, which will be within walking distance of the Clark International Airport. CIAC also plans to build a multi-modal facility to enhance accessibility, complementing the upcoming North-South Commuter Railway project that will connect Clark to Manila and further to Laguna.
“Imagine, if you go here to watch, you come from Manila, you ride the train, you bring your car—there’s a multimodal terminal. Or your relatives from Singapore, Hong Kong, or wherever, they can fly to Clark,” Perez added.
This development follows the Philippines’ miss of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, which was reportedly due to an exclusivity clause in Singapore that prevented the superstar from performing in other Southeast Asian countries. CIAC’s initiative aims to ensure that future high-profile concerts include a Philippine leg.