The Scottish Event Campus has achieved a huge deal during its first 40 years, writes Business Editor Ian McConnell.

However, a warning from its former chief executive about the danger of a "massive missed opportunity" should be heeded.

Four decades of “creating incredible” was how Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus put it this week as it launched a video telling its story.

While the team at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), headed these days by chief executive Dom McKay, could hardly be described as hiding its light under a bushel with such a glowing compliment about all that has been achieved, this summation of the first 40 years seems entirely justified.

What has been created on the north bank of the Clyde at Finnieston is very impressive indeed.

The campus has evolved in somewhat spectacular style since the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) opened in 1985.

The site now includes the SEC Centre exhibition and meeting spaces, 3,000-seat Armadillo, and 14,300-capacity OVO Hydro concert venue.

The complex has provided a huge economic boost to Glasgow, attracting enormous numbers of delegates from around the globe for a raft of major conferences and with huge acts playing at the OVO Hydro. The Armadillo, which started out as the Clyde Auditorium and is a key feature of the city’s skyline as is the OVO Hydro, has also been a great success.

The SEC declared: “For four decades the Scottish Event Campus has stood at the centre of Scotland’s cultural life, attracting world-class shows, artists, major events and conferences to Glasgow.”

Mr McKay, for his part, declared that “reaching 40 years is an incredible milestone for the SEC”.

He added: “It’s a moment to reflect on everything that has shaped this campus and allowed it to sit at the beating heart of not only Glasgow’s but Scotland’s cultural life.”........

© Herald Scotland