The SSE Hydro has been revealed to the media ahead of the opening concert with Rod Stewart on Monday evening.
Designed by world-renowed architects Foster and Partners, The
SSE Hydro has a seated capacity of 12,000. The first purpose build
concert venue of its scale, it will play host to around 140 events
each year including national and international artists and bands.
It will also host major comedy stars and sporting events.
The SSE Hydro has transformed the 64-acre site at SECC into a
complete exhibition, conference and entertainments complex.
Designed from the inside out, visitors will enjoy exceptional sight
lines from the fixed, tiered and demountable seating system, with
the highest standard of accoustics.
John Sharkey, Chief Executive Officer, SEC Ltd, said, "Building
our new arena has been a very complex project and hugely
challenging. However, we are delighted to be entering the final
stage of this journey today. Our calendar for 2013 through to 2014
is filling up fast and will provide fans with the eclectic mix of
world class events that The SSE Hydro was built to accommodate.
"The project team, funding partners, Glasgow City Council and
Scottish Enterprise, and sponsoring partners including SSE can be
proud to have played a part in delivering a unique and iconic
entertainment space for Scotland which will be the envy of Europe,
if not the world."
The SSE Hydro is one of the First major development to be
completed in the SECC QD2 master plan and has the ptential to
inject an additional £130 million per annum in to the local
economy. (The current economic impact of the SECC is £347 millions
per annum with 1.5 million visitors a year). The venue will also
play an integral role in The Glsgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as the
home for both gymnastics and the netball finals.