Monday 30 September 2013
Glasgow’s newest and most spectacular live entertainment venue – and home to the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships – is gearing up to open for the very first time tonight.
The 12,000 seater SSE Hydro on the banks of the city’s River Clyde hosts Scottish music legend Rod Stewart this evening as a sell out audience flock to Scotland’s first purpose-built entertainment venue. Standing at 45m high and modelled on Greek and Roman amphitheatres, the Hydro’s unique domed shape has become the newest landmark on Glasgow’s skyline. Built with the spectator experience in mind, the venue offers excellent sightlines and acoustics of the highest standard.
Next year the Hydro will be one of Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games venues, hosting the artistic gymnastics and netball competitions before welcoming the world in 2015 for the World Gymnastics Championships. From 23 October until 1 November 2015 the Hydro will provide the backdrop to 10 days of competition as 525 gymnasts from 80 countries perform to win World titles.
Designed by world-renowned architects Foster & Partners the innovative creation is set to become an icon of the city. A distinctive, translucent skin on the Hydro’s exterior glows at night and welcomes spectators with over 12 million different colours and image projections. Spectators in 2015 will therefore be treated to astounding displays both inside and outside the brand-new Hydro Arena.