15-530: The OVO Hydro is a multi-purpose indoor arena located within the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow , Scotland. The arena was initially named The Scottish Hydro Arena after its main sponsor Scottish Hydro Electric . During construction, Scottish Hydro Electric was rebranded as SSE and the arena was known as The SSE Hydro when it opened until October 2021, when it was announced that the name
30-419: A regular feature in the top ten arenas globally. [REDACTED] Media related to The SSE Hydro at Wikimedia Commons Arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre , musical performances , and/or sporting events . It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators, and may be covered by
45-505: A roof. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate a multitude of spectators. The word derives from Latin harena , a particularly fine-grained sand that covered the floor of ancient arenas such as the Colosseum in Rome , Italy, to absorb blood. The term arena is sometimes used as
60-430: A synonym for a very large venue such as Pasadena's Rose Bowl , but such a facility is typically called a stadium . The use of one term over the other has mostly to do with the type of event. Football (be it association , rugby , gridiron , Australian rules , or Gaelic ) is typically played in a stadium, while basketball , volleyball , handball , and ice hockey are typically played in an arena, although many of
75-476: Is also the sport of indoor American football (one variant of which is explicitly known as arena football), a variant of the outdoor game that is designed for the usual smaller playing surface of most arenas; variants of other traditionally outdoor sports, including box lacrosse as well as futsal and indoor soccer , also exist. The term "arena" is also used loosely to refer to any event or type of event which either literally or metaphorically takes place in such
90-613: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended the blaze. It was determined that the fire was caused by ongoing welding work on the building's roof. On 18 June, the venue's operator revealed that despite additional challenges, work on the venue was still on track for completion. On 14 December 2014, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award ceremony was held at the venue. During the 2014 Commonwealth Games
105-541: The 2018–19 World Boxing Super Series . On 15 June 2024, WWE hosted its premium live event Clash at the Castle: Scotland at OVO Hydro, marking the company's first major event in the country. As a prelude, WWE broadcast an episode of SmackDown from the arena on 14 June. The OVO Hydro was used for exterior shots of the venue for the fictional 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in the 2020 film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga . The OVO Hydro
120-718: The SSE Hydro was home to the netball and gymnastic events. On 18 July 2015, the UFC held their inaugural Scottish event UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites at the Hydro. From 23 October to 1 November 2015, the SSE Hydro hosted the Artistic gymnastics world championships . In 2016, the venue hosted a heavyweight boxing fight between Dillian Whyte and Ian Lewison . Later it has hosted four boxing fights headlined by Scottish light welterweight boxer Josh Taylor . It also hosted two rounds of
135-612: The design team for the Hydro in May 2004, with Glasgow-based Elphinstone additionally appointed as the preferred developer for the site. The design of the arena was finally released to the press in October 2005, and the SECC gained full planning consent for the arena by 2006. Construction for the arena began in February 2011 by construction company Lend Lease. By November 2011, building work for
150-545: The evening of 11 September 2014 and was presented by James Cook . In 2016, the arena handled 751,487 ticket sales; making it the eighth-busiest music arena in the world in terms of ticket sales. It also hosted the UFC 's first event in Scotland. In 2019, the Hydro was the second busiest venue in the world behind Madison Square Garden in New York City . The venue attracts over 1 million visitors per year, making it
165-588: The larger arenas hold more spectators than do the stadiums of smaller colleges or high schools. There are exceptions. The home of the Duke University men's and women's basketball teams would qualify as an arena, but the facility is called Cameron Indoor Stadium . Domed stadiums, which, like arenas, are enclosed but have the larger playing surfaces and seating capacities found in stadiums, are generally not referred to as arenas in North America. There
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#1732776227055180-424: The roof of the arena had begun, which was completed by April 2013. The arena's signature translucent outer cushions were installed in May 2013, along with the seating inside of the arena, marking construction of the arena completed, taking two years to complete. At approximately 15:20 on Sunday 8 June 2013, flames were reported to be coming from the domed roof of the partially completed building. 40 firefighters from
195-478: Was host to the largest televised debate seen in Scotland's history, Scotland Decides: The Big, Big Debate , held on the evening of Thursday 11 September 2014; towards the end of the Scottish independence referendum campaign. The Mentorn / BBC Scotland organised debate, in which every secondary school in Scotland was invited to take part, involved around 7,500 first time voters and was broadcast on BBC One during
210-556: Was the largest entertainment venue in Scotland, before the opening of Aberdeen 's P&J Live in 2019, and the fifth largest in the UK. Planning for The Hydro began some time in 2001 as the second redevelopment of the Queens Dock in Glasgow . In May 2003, a plan had been unveiled for an entertainment arena, holding 12,300 seated audience members and an extra 2,000 standing. London-based architects Foster + Partners were appointed as
225-586: Was to change to "OVO Hydro", after its new sponsor OVO Energy , with a focus on making the venue more sustainable. The arena was officially opened on 30 September 2013, with a concert by Rod Stewart . The OVO Hydro arena is located adjacent to the SEC Centre and the SEC Armadillo and hosts international musical stars, global entertainment and sporting events; with a maximum capacity of 14,300 and aims to attract one million visitors each year. The arena
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