Key Points
- The OVO Hydro in Glasgow will host Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) matches for the first time in December 2026.
- The event features all three Scottish professional teams—Glasgow Clan, Dundee Stars, and Fife Flyers—alongside the Belfast Giants.
- A two-day festive schedule spans 30 December and 31 December (Hogmanay).
- The inaugural Scotia Quaich trophy will be contested on Hogmanay between Glasgow Clan and Dundee Stars.
- Executives from the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Braehead Arena, MKM Dundee Stars, and the Motorpoint Elite League have hailed the move as a landmark step for growing the sport.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) August 22, 2026 –Glasgow’s OVO Hydro is set to host professional ice hockey for the first time in December 2026, bringing a two-day festival of Motorpoint Elite League action to Scotland’s premier events arena. The landmark spectacle features all three Scottish professional franchises—Glasgow Clan, Dundee Stars, and Fife Flyers—alongside the reigning Motorpoint Elite League champions, Belfast Giants.
The festivities begin on Wednesday, 30 December, when Dundee Stars face off against Fife Flyers at 3:00 pm. Later that evening, at 7:30 pm, host side Glasgow Clan welcome Belfast Giants to the ice. On Hogmanay, Thursday, 31 December, Glasgow Clan return to the rink at 3:00 pm to take on Dundee Stars, with the newly introduced Scotia Quaich trophy at stake.
What do venue and club leadership say about bringing ice hockey to the OVO Hydro?
Chief Commercial Officer of the SEC Debbie McWilliams highlighted the banner year for live athletics across the campus, noting that this addition reflects the nationwide hunger for elite competition. As stated by McWilliams,
“This has been an outstanding year for sport at the SEC. Highlights include Scotland’s World Cup matches and the 2026 Commonwealth Games and we have seen first-hand Glasgow and Scotland’s appetite for live sporting events.”
She further explained that bringing ice hockey to the arena represents a
“really significant addition” to the venue’s portfolio, emphasizing that Glasgow Clan, Dundee Stars, and Fife Flyers possess “passionate and committed fanbases”
and calling the showcase “a fitting way to round off what has been an exceptional year across the SEC.”
Expanding on the momentum of the sport, Braehead Arena and Glasgow Clan CEO Russ Smith underscored the potential to reach an expanded demographic. As stated by Smith,
“This is an incredibly exciting time for a game that has already become a huge part of life for so many Scots.”
Smith noted that by uniting Scottish clubs and the Belfast Giants, the event aims to
“take Scottish ice hockey to the next level and introduce this thrilling, action packed but family-friendly game to new audiences,” adding that the goal centers on
“growing the sport as a whole, giving our supporters the opportunity to watch their team in Scotland’s biggest arena and welcoming new fans.”
How do league officials and team executives view the expansion?
MKM Dundee Stars Non-Executive Chairman Steve Ward framed the showcase as an ideal platform to demonstrate the high level of play within the league. As stated by Ward,
“This is the chance for the three Scottish teams Dundee, Glasgow, and Fife along with Belfast to showcase to as wide an audience as possible Motorpoint Elite League Hockey at its finest.”
Ward pointed to the “exceptional speed, flair and a burning desire to win” shared across all four teams, promising “three games of high intensity” and expressing a desire to give
“Scottish and Irish fans two days of hockey they won’t forget,”
with long-term success defined by making the double-header “an annual event.”
Reflecting on the wider structural benefits, Motorpoint Elite League Chairman Tony Smith emphasized the broader visibility for British ice hockey. As stated by Smith,
“Playing at the OVO Hydro is huge not just for our three teams in Scotland, but for the whole of the Motorpoint Elite League.”
He observed that staging matches at a venue of this scale helps
“continue to grow the profile of the league and put our sport in front of new audiences,”
expressing confidence that the clubs will create a spectacle “that feels bigger than just three games” while encouraging fans to make the two-day festival memorable.
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Background of the Development
The Motorpoint Elite League represents the top tier of professional ice hockey in the United Kingdom. Traditionally, Scottish clubs have operated out of specialized local arenas—such as the Braehead Arena for Glasgow Clan, the Dundee Ice Arena for Dundee Stars, and the Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy. While these venues offer dedicated fan bases and intimate atmospheres, their capacities are relatively modest compared to major entertainment venues.
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, which encompasses the OVO Hydro, has progressively established itself as a primary hub for international sport in Scotland. Having hosted major global events, including stages of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and international football broadcasts, the campus infrastructure is configured for large-scale audience engagement.
Adapting the venue for ice hockey involves constructing a temporary regulation rink inside the arena, representing a logistical investment aimed at capitalizing on the sport’s rapid audience growth across Scotland and the wider UK market.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Scottish Ice Hockey and Local Audiences
For local ice hockey supporters, sports enthusiasts, and family audiences across Scotland, this development marks a transition toward mainstream visibility for the sport. Moving the fixtures from regional rinks to a 14,000-capacity arena offers several distinct outcomes:
- Audience Expansion and Accessibility: Transitioning from smaller venues to the OVO Hydro provides significant seating availability, allowing casual sports fans and families looking for festive entertainment to attend without the constraints of typical season-ticket sellouts.
- Commercial Growth for Scottish Franchises: Increased gate receipts, merchandise distribution, and media profile from a marquee venue raise the overall commercial ceiling for Glasgow Clan, Dundee Stars, and Fife Flyers, potentially unlocking new sponsorship streams.
- Establishment of a Festive Tradition: Staging the Scotia Quaich over Hogmanay establishes a key fixture in the Scottish sporting calendar, mimicking traditional holiday derby fixtures seen in football and rugby. If successful, it establishes a recurring multi-day festival that attracts traveling supporters from Northern Ireland and across the UK.
