Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ world tour landed in Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium on January 18 (with the last show slated to be held on January 21), promising an unforgettable evening of music and visual artistry. The band, led by Chris Martin, delivered a performance that blended timeless hits like Yellow and Fix You with newer chart-toppers such as Higher Power. Apart from the music, fans were taken in by the dazzling light displays, synchronised LED wristbands, and immersive stage design.
For Indian fans, this was a historic moment, as Mumbai was one of the few cities in Asia chosen for the tour. The concert reinforced Coldplay’s ethos of uniting people through music and left many feeling deeply connected to the band’s message of love and togetherness.
Behind the scenes
While the concert was a musical triumph, the event’s organisation left much to be desired. Poor planning and miscommunication created significant hurdles for attendees, dampening what could have been a perfect evening.
Over 50,000 people attended the Coldplay concert on January 18 and 19
| Photo Credit:
Anna Lee
Special trains were arranged in collaboration with Indian Railways, but unclear communication about timings and platform details caused chaos. Many concertgoers ended up relying on regular local trains, which were less crowded and far cheaper.
“My brother and I were excited to hear about the special trains for the concert and thought it would be a comfortable way to get to the venue. But it turned out to be just a regular local train on the usual Goregaon to Nerul route, completely packed and almost impossible to board at Bandra. I can’t imagine how stressful this must have been for outstation attendees unfamiliar with Mumbai’s locals. To make things worse, the timing details were shared at the last minute, with no clear information about the platforms. We ended up taking a regular train after losing ₹1,000 (for two people) on the special train tickets—it was surprisingly empty and only cost us ₹60 for a round trip!” said Mumbai attendee Vinay Da Cunha.
At the venue, attendees were required to use digital bands for all purchases, but network issues rendered many bands unusable. Fans who pre-loaded money onto the bands found themselves unable to buy food or drinks, leading to widespread frustration.
“Despite topping up the band, I couldn’t use it due to network issues. It was disappointing to face such basic problems at an event of this scale,” said Neale Da Cunha, an outstation attendee from Goa.
Accessibility oversights
Concertgoers were barred from bringing water bottles, forcing them to rely on venue stalls that were hard to access due to payment issues. Additionally, there were no provisions for people with mobility challenges, leaving many struggling to navigate the venue.
Coldplay in performance
| Photo Credit:
Anna Lee
“Even empty water bottles were discarded at security. It felt unfair to pay for basic water after already spending so much on tickets,” Neale added.
Missing the mark
Although Coldplay has championed sustainability with features like kinetic dance floors, the venue fell short. A lack of waste disposal systems resulted in litter piling up, contradicting the eco-friendly message the band promoted. And despite welcoming families and children, the event saw unregulated smoking, with attendees sneaking in vapes and cigarettes. This created an uncomfortable environment, especially for parents with young kids.
Bright spots
Not everything was amiss. The stadium’s toilets were well-maintained throughout the event—a rarity for large-scale gatherings in India. Many female attendees appreciated the effort and recommended carrying essentials like sanitiser and wipes to enhance the experience.
The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai
| Photo Credit:
Anna Lee
“I was worried about the bathroom situation. But surprisingly, they were well-maintained. Before leaving, I even tipped the washroom attendant, who, without me asking, cleaned the stall again and sanitised the seat. The tissues were dry, and I loved that they had sanitary napkins available as well,” said Mumbai attendee Preksha Bharwada.
Coldplay’s Mumbai concert delivered an incredible performance, but poor planning created unnecessary challenges. Issues like transport confusion, payment failures, and limited accessibility left many fans frustrated. Tickets for Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour in India were available on BookMyShow.
For the Mumbai concerts on January 18 and 19, 2025, at DY Patil Stadium, and the Ahmedabad concert on January 25, 2025, at Narendra Modi Stadium, ticket prices start at ₹2,500. The initial sale saw an overwhelming demand, with 13 million people vying for just 1,50,000 tickets. This rush caused technical glitches on the BookMyShow platform, frustrating many fans. Adding to the frenzy, tickets quickly appeared on secondary markets, resold at significantly higher prices, with some fans having spent between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000, with a few even paying close to ₹1 lakh for tickets.
Mumbai missed an opportunity to offer live streaming for those unable to attend, especially at a time when digital access enhances live events. Looking ahead, Coldplay’s partnership with Disney+ Hotstar for the Music of the Spheres World Tour, streaming live from Ahmedabad on January 26, will make the concert more accessible to a wider audience.
The third show of the Mumbai leg of the Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 will take place on January 21. For fans in Ahmedabad, concerts are scheduled on January 25 and January 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Tickets for all shows were available on BookMyShow. The concert was organised by BookMyShow.Live.
Published – January 20, 2025 02:45 pm IST
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