How much does the Glasgow Hydro bring to the city's economy

The Glasgow Times is marking the milestone with a week of special features dedicated to the famous venue and its impact on the city.

THE SEC has contributed more than £150million to Glasgow’s economy on average each year since the OVO Hydro opened in 2013.

The venue turns 10 on Saturday, September 30 and since then it has become an important part of the city’s tourism industry.

Aileen Crawford, head of tourism and conventions at Glasgow Life, says the Finnieston venue has been a key part of cementing the city’s role as a UNESCO City of Music and putting it “on the music map”.

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She said: “Looking at one of the key pillars of tourism strategy now and moving forward is music tourism.

“We have realised that the music experienced people come to Glasgow for is unrivalled and that’s a key draw for visitor to the city, it’s really important.

“I think it’s incredible Glasgow’s got the OVO Hydro, one of the busiest performances spaces in the world.

“From an economic benefit perspective, we’re looking at statistics of half a million visitors coming to Glasgow to experience live music [each year] and that contributes almost £160million to the visitor economy.”

Aileen Crawford (Image: Supplied)

She added: “Musicians always cite the Glasgow audience, it’s something they thrive on and it really embodies Glasgow’s energy and swagger and they really enjoy the Glasgow experience.

“As well, when you look at the area around the OVO Hydro, the fantastic restaurants, bars, and the experiences around Finnieston have grown up around the SEC Campus for conferences, live events and music.

“So you can physically see the Hydro effect in that part of town.”

A spokesperson for the SEC says the campus has contributed £153,023,069 to Glasgow’s economy per year since 2013, which has supported an average of 1995 additional full-time jobs annually.

Caroline Warburton, destination development director (central and north east) at Visit Scotland, says the Hydro has raised Glasgow’s profile as an event city not just in Scotland but in the UK and around the world.

She believes the impact of the arena on the local economy can’t be underestimated.

Caroline Warburton (Image: Supplied)

Caroline said: “It unquestionably brings thousands and thousands of people into the city and of those thousands and thousands of people most of them have also either stayed or had a drink of been shopping or used the transport and that has brought a real economic benefit to the city and to the surrounding areas in terms of tourism and supporting the visitor economy. 

“So that impact I don’t think can be underestimated. 

“The Hydro has also brought in these world-class acts and events and those acts and events probably wouldn’t come to Scotland if it were not for the Hydro and the other venues that are on the campus.”

Caroline also highlighted how despite only being 10 years old, the Hydro building has become a recognisable building on the city’s horizon.

She added: “The Hydro is such an iconic building that has become almost part of the skyline of Glasgow and when people see the Hydro they associate it with Glasgow and vice versa and that’s quite an accolade for a building.  

“It sits alongside the Armadillo and the Finnieston Crane, and I think between them they’ve become really iconic of Glasgow so reinforcing the view the Hydro has had a significant impact on tourism but also on the city as well.”

Graham Chalmers (Image: Supplied)

Graham Chalmers, curator at the neighbouring Radisson Red, says the Hydro has been a “game-changer” for the area and the whole country.

He said: “It has brought unparalleled artists of global stature to the city on a weekly or even nightly business.

“The OVO Hydro drives footfall and traffic into our hotel and the businesses around us every show day, without fail.

“We have developed live music programmes to complement the Hydro’s events – so on a show night we have live music before and after the Hydro, to give people somewhere to warm up for their show with a meal and some drinks and relax again afterwards.

“The OVO Hydro’s impact has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are hugely keen to develop and deepen our relationship with them.”