HPE lift to Scottish Event Campus digital transformation journey

Article posted by Coliseum, October 14^th, 2026

Image: Coliseum GSVA

Adam Douglas works for the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) and is based in Glasgow (Scotland, UK). He plays a crucial role in supporting information technology (IT) services at the SEC. He helms a team responsible for delivering technology solutions that support complex, high-profile events.

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In a conversation with ‘Coliseum’, Adam Douglas, IT Manager, Scottish Event Campus, UK, tells Michael Johnston, BD Manager, Global Sports & Entertainment, HPE Networking, US, that “We came from a place of one-dimensional services for all of our clients which really alert us to tap into new revenue streams and the availability of apps and new services.” He narrates how the HPE Networking completely transformed the digital environment of the SEC.

Scottish Event Campus

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) is Scotland’s premier integrated venue for live entertainment, concerts, exhibitions, and international conferences and is located on the banks of the River Clyde in Finnieston, Glasgow (UK).

HPE Networking

Santa Clara (US)-based the HPE Networking is the enterprise networking and communications division of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE – an American multinational information technology company). It provides wired, wireless, data center, and security infrastructure solutions designed to support modern, hybrid-cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven workloads.

SEConnect

The HPE Aruba Networking technology powered the launch of SEConnect, a groundbreaking £4 million IT and business infrastructure upgrade at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. As the largest IT investment in the venue’s history the project completely transformed the network and security capabilities across the campus.

Adam Douglas began by giving the deets of the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), “Our campus is based on the banks of the River Clyde. It is a live entertainment arena and purposed for conference facilities, exhibitions spaces and can hold 3,000 people. It is very well-purposed to lead and hold functions and events, conferences, exhibitions, and live entertainment. The HPE networking is part of the experience.”

Mega Events

Michael Johnston mentioned that doing events is something which a lot of arenas are trying to do and wanted to know what kind of conversions the SEC do particularly for mega events like the Commonwealth Games.

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) served as the primary multisport hub for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow welcoming over 200,000 visitors across six sports from July 23^rd– August 2^nd, 2026.

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) sits on a total land area of 64 acres (approximately 260,000 square meters) while its indoor event and exhibition space spans 22,344 square meters (over 239,000 square feet) across its core facilities (the SEC Centre, the 3,000-seat SEC Armadillo and the 14,300-seat OVO Hydro).

Events-based Atmosphere

Stated Douglas, “We have a campus full of facilities and the Commonwealth Games took over all of our site and only 34 acres of that I would say is events-based. I am attached to doing the network and the event infrastructure to create events-based ambience within the four walls. We are looking at the external spaces in terms of fan engagement, merchandise, catering, ensure that people spend more time in the venue and ultimately generate that spend per head and help our business grow.”

Douglas elaborated on how the Scottish Event Campus has multiple events going on “across the space”.

CYBERUK 2026

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) hosted the CYBERUK 2026 from April 21^st-23^rd, 2026 “which saw a gathering of cyber professionals across United Kingdom and Europe.”

‘Technology Design Principles’

Added Johnston, “The HPE was also involved in delivering the CYBERUK 2026 event. Everything with HPE really kind of starts with aligning with what the business use cases will be. We have design principles for the technology and everything behind that. So, it is really marrying the design principles towards the business actually needs out of the facility. If a big event is coming in you can kind of get involved in a project or per event or you are just literally overriding the contractor with them. That’s what was exciting about the SEC Campus opportunity.”

Digital Transformation Journey

Douglas added that the HPE has helped the SEC’s digital transformation journey and “we have really been taken by the attention and detail of HPE and they have been by our side and they just wanted to understand your business and maybe wanted to transform that digital aspect of your delivery.”

Future Plans

Douglas added that they plan to expand that partnership with HPE and “In terms of fan engagement we are really hoping the revenue is going to grow through and the digital AI strategy as regards the infrastructure is growing. We are looking to expand the SEC in the next three-five years and our plans include how we are going to commercialize that in the future as the Scottish Event Campus grows.”

Wind-up

In-seat Ordering

Adam Douglas concluded by stating that “In-seat ordering is something we have implemented in the last few months using that more American-based model, premium spaces and you can pre-order your food and beverage (F&B) and merchandise in-seat.”

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