How superstar Rod opened the doors to 5.2m fans
different to make full use of the venue’s versatility is the role of Julie Mckinnon, the live entertainment team’s business development manager.
She says: “The Hydro has really put Glasgow on the map.
“It’s such a fantastic venue and we’re attracting world-renowned stars. It was purpose built for concerts and live entertainment.
“Glaswegians love a night out and we’ve provided that to them.” One particular night out had comedy fans from around the country flocking to Glasgow.
The live version of Still Game saw around 210,000 attend Jack and Victor’s arena antics in their first run alone. The show has now blazed the trail for more theatre productions at the venue.
“It’s an area we’re really focused on just now and hopefully you’ll see in the coming years that we’re going to have more theatre here,” says Julie.
Nineteen nights of comedian
Kevin Bridges take up most of October and double as an extended fifth birthday celebration.
Mckinnon adds: “Every event that comes here is completely different to the next and we’re continually offering new, better experiences. We try to attract a wide range of events so that there’s something for everyone.”
Her goal is to get The Rolling Stones to come to the venue, and add their name to the wall backstage that features every event etched in metal, from Wet Wet Wet to WWE, One Direction to Dolly Parton.
“My favourite moment in The Hydro has to be Prince,” says Mckinnon. “I absolutely loved him so the fact that we got him here two years before we lost him was just amazing.
“It was such a good night, an incredible atmosphere and the crowd went wild. I’ll never forget it.”
The SSE Hydro opened on the banks of the Clyde on September 30, 2013 with a performance by Rod Stewart.
In its first year it welcomed
1.5 million visitors, hosting 147 events including gymnastics and netball at the Commonwealth Games four years ago.
There have now been 5.2m visitors inside the spaceship-like building, designed by Foster + Partners, taking in 639 performances.
In 2017, the Hydro was the fourth-busiest venue in the world after London’s O2, Madison Square Garden in New York and the Manchester Arena.
Since opening, hungry and thirsty concert-goers have enjoyed 490,000 soft drinks, 750,000 glasses of wine and 72,000 pizzas. There have also been two million pints pulled.
Last year, Celine Dion became the highest-grossing artist to perform at the venue while hard-rocking Metallica topped previous attendance records with an audience of 12,935.
The arena has also been lit up in a dazzling array of colours for charitable causes and notable campaigns.
It turned red, white and blue in solidarity with France after the Paris attacks, and carried the colours of the South African flag after the death of Nelson Mandela. Glasgow’s booming Finnieston neighbourhood, where the Hydro sits, has reaped the benefits with many upmarket restaurants and bars opening up in recent years. The Hydro has received numerous awards, including the Scottish Property Award for Architectural Excellence, The 2014 RICS Scotland Award for Best Project – Tourism and Leisure, Scottish Style’s Most Stylish Venue award and Glasgow Institute of Architects’ Supreme Award.