OVO Hydro Arena
OVO Hydro Arena features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Glasgow. Give it roughly ~30 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Glasgow Glasgow guide
About OVO Hydro Arena
A 13,000-seat entertainment arena opened in 2013 and designed by Foster + Partners, one of the world's busiest music venues by annual ticket sales, sitting dramatically on the Clyde as part of the Scottish Event Campus.
The OVO Hydro Arena (opened as the SSE Hydro in 2013) is one of the world's most successful entertainment venues, consistently ranking among the top five busiest arenas globally by annual ticket sales. Located at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) on the north bank of the River Clyde, the building was designed by Foster + Partners, the architecture firm of Lord Norman Foster. Its distinctive domed form, clad in ETFE, the same lightweight plastic membrane used on the Eden Project in Cornwall, creates a dramatic profile on the Glasgow riverfront. The arena can seat up to 13,000 people and has hosted some of the world's biggest performers, including Beyoncé, Adele, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. The Hydro is part of a broader campus that includes the SECC exhibition centre, the OVO Hydro, and the SEC Armadillo.
Did you know? The OVO Hydro consistently ranks in the top five busiest music arenas in the world by annual ticket sales, placing Glasgow alongside New York, Los Angeles, and London as a global entertainment destination.
How long is a visit to OVO Hydro Arena?
Set aside roughly ~30 min for OVO Hydro Arena. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is OVO Hydro Arena worth your time?
OVO Hydro Arena is among the 22 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Glasgow, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Glasgow
Hear the story of OVO Hydro Arena
Preview the Glasgow tour free in the Gingerguide app.