Scottish Event Campus

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) features the SEC Centre - five interconnected exhibition and meeting spaces, the iconic 3,000 seat SEC Armadillo and our most recent addition, The SSE Hydro – a 13,000 capacity concert, sporting and special events arena.  With its infinite flexibility, the campus has gone from strength to strength and, with planned expansion and development, will continue to position Glasgow on the world stage.  

SEC Armadillo

Designed by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners, the SEC Armadillo is a Glasgow landmark with a unique style and practical, comfortable facilities for up to 3,000.

SEC Centre

SEC Centre offers five interconnected exhibition and event halls with a combined area of over 22,000sqm.    

SSE Hydro

A truly iconic structure, the 13,000 capacity SSE Hydro is Scotland’s home of live entertainment and is consistently ranked by Pollstar in the top three arenas globally.

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Timeline

February

The SSE Hydro retains its position as one of the top arenas globally, ranking third in the Pollstar ‘Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues’ list. The list, compiled quarterly, is based on attendance at concerts and special events.

December

Over the course of 2015, The SSE Hydro hosted 70 unique events, 130 performances and welcomed 1,164,287 visitors. The combined economic benefit to Scotland was £106m.

February

Capital FM becomes first Official Radio Partner. The partnership will provide an extra dimension to The Capital FM Starsuite experience whilst affording Capital – Scotland’s number one commercial radio station – the opportunity to engage with our diverse demographic.

January

The SSE Hydro climbed to second busiest live entertainment arena in the world in the Pollstar ‘Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues’ rankings! A phenomenal achievement for Scotland’s home of live entertainment, which was benchmarked against every other major global venue (and only beaten to the top spot by London’s O2 Arena).

November 

Park’s Motor Group, Scotland’s leading independent motor group, is appointed as the venue’s Official Car Partner. The new agreement offers SSE Hydro customers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the range of vehicles Park’s Motor Group retails across Scotland.

July 

Just ten months after opening, The SSE Hydro soars into third place in the Pollstar ‘Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues’ rankings. The list is compiled by the leading entertainment industry publication based on attendance at concerts and special events.

June

The SSE Hydro is recognised with a further three prestigious awards – amounting to six since the venue opened in 2013. The venue received the ‘Chairman’s Award for Architecture’ at the Scottish Design Awards. Foster + Partners and Arup picked up two further awards in the ‘Architecture – Lighting’ and ‘Architecture – Leisure/ Culture Building or Project’ categories at the same event.

May

Dralion, Cirque du Soleil on May 10 marks the one hundredth show at The SSE Hydro! Click here to see photos from the first 100 shows.

April

The SSE Hydro is rated as one of the top entertainment arenas globally, climbing to fourth place in the Pollstar ‘Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues’ rankings. The list is based on attendance at concerts and special events.

March

International songwriter and performer, Paolo Nutini joined young people who receive music therapy from Nordoff Robbins Scotland outside The SSE Hydro to launch a new partnership between the charity and Scotland’s leading live entertainment arena. The charity’s music therapists help over 400 children, young people and adults every week using the power of music to improve their health and wellbeing.

February 

The SSE Hydro wins the Architectural Excellence Award (Public Building) at The Scottish Property Awards 2014.

November

The SSE Hydro is awarded the prestigious accolade of ‘Most Stylish Entertainment Venue’ at the 2013 Scottish Style Awards, held at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.

September 

  • 30th September 2013 – The SSE Hydro officially opens with Rod Stewart, the first of an amazing four night run.
  • Raymond Weil is confirmed as the Official Timepiece Partner. Founded in 1976 by Mr. Raymond Weil, the family-owned company is based in Geneva, home of Switzerland’s most prestigious watchmakers and of the industry’s topmost expertise in component and material supply.

August 

Sony announced as Official Digital Partner for the venue to supply all digital signage/ screens.

June 

At approximately 3:20 pm on 8th June 2013, flames were reported to be coming from the domed roof of the partially completed building. Four appliances and forty fire fighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended the blaze. The fire was caused by welding work taking place in the building’s roof space.

May

  • Rod Stewart announced as opening act for Monday, 30th September 2013.
  • Installation of seats
  • Outer panelling (ETFE cushions) which gives the building its night-time glow, installed.

April

  • Clydesdale Bank announced as the Official Banking Partner. The bank, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2013, signed a three-year agreement which will see them work in partnership with the venue. 
  • Roof covering due for completion
  • Catering areas handed over to franchise partners for final fit-out.

January

  • Kettle Foods, makers of Kettle® Chips, the UK’s leading premium crisp brand, appointed as the official supplier of savoury snacks to The SSE Hydro. The exclusive three-year agreement will see the company providing the venue with a range of delicious hand cooked Kettle® Chips.
  • VIP areas handed over to partners for final fit-out

November

ScotRail is announced as the Official Transport Partner. The train operator is keen to encourage more people to take the train to events and is looking at expanding its offering to assist customers in getting to and from The SSE Hydro.

October 

The final roof bolt is placed in The Hydro at the traditional ‘Topping Out’ ceremony by apprentice civil engineer John McLaughlan. He was joined by Glasgow City Council Leader, Gordon Matheson; SECC CEO John Sharkey; Lend Lease Executive General Manager Gordon Anderson and SECC Chairman, Sir Ian Grant.

July

The SECC announces that The SSE Hydro will officially open for business in September 2013.

November

Building work commences on the roof of The SSE Hydro.

September

SECC confirms partnership with Levy Restaurants as part of a ten-year deal, which will include providing catering solutions in The SSE Hydro.

June

Scottish Hydro (SSE) is unveiled as naming rights partner for Scotland’s new entertainment arena – to be known as ‘The SSE Hydro’. The leading UK energy provider commits to investing £1.5m per year over the next ten years.

February

Lend Lease commence building work on new arena.

December

SECC appoints Bovis Lend Lease to build the Scottish National Arena.

September 

SECC announces its appointment of AEG Facilities to provide operating and revenue generating sources from AEG Facilities’ European and International Operations.

January 

SECC celebrates its 25th anniversary having delivered £34m of economic benefit to Glasgow.

2006

Full planning consent granted for the Scottish National Arena.

2005

Foster + Partners unveil designs for the new arena to the press.

2004

Foster + Partners appointed as design team lead to create the new venue. Glasgow based Elphinstone appointed as preferred developer of the site.

2003

The £125m QD2 master plan is unveiled to include a new 12,000 seater national entertainment arena, which will later become known as The SSE Hydro.

2001

The SECC Board approves the proposal to carry out a complete master plan exercise over the next ten years. The project is named QD2 – the second redevelopment of the Queens Dock.

Naming Rights Partner

Venue Partners

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