In a phenomenon that took many by storm, tickets for Coldplay’s highly anticipated concert in January 2025 in Mumbai sold out almost instantaneously, leaving a vast majority of eager fans empty-handed and disheartened. The rapid sell-out has sparked a wave of frustration and indignation among fans, many of whom have taken to social media to express their disappointment and anger.
Initially, Coldplay had announced two concerts in Mumbai, but when tickets for these shows vanished within minutes of going on sale, the band quickly added a third performance date. Unfortunately, the addition did little to alleviate the situation; tickets for the third concert also sold out in mere minutes, intensifying the growing sense of dissatisfaction among the fans.
Jay (name changed), a 23-year-old student from Hyderabad, was one of the thousands dismayed by the ticket-buying ordeal. Logging into the popular ticketing platform, BookMyShow, as soon as it opened at 12 p.m., Jay found himself with a queue number of 10,67,672 (10.6 lakh). Despite his queue position rapidly advancing to around 50,000, he was ultimately met with a disheartening ‘Sold Out’ message.
“What was intended to be a joyous occasion has turned into a baffling disappointment,” Jay commented. His experience was not an isolated case, mirroring the struggle of fans nationwide.
Ramya, another hopeful concert-goer and a corporate employee from Hyderabad, shared her disillusionment with the ticket-buying process. Starting at queue position 9,80,135, she quickly moved to position 20,000—giving her a fleeting hope of securing tickets. “Within minutes, I thought I had a real shot. But just when things seemed to be going my way, BookMyShow inexplicably kicked me out. By the time I managed to log back in, all tickets were gone,” she lamented.
Among the throngs of disappointed fans was Rahul Boine, a tax consultant who shared his own frustrating experience.
. Beginning the queue at nearly nine lakh, Rahul’s position moved down to 44,000, only for him to face a ‘Sold Out’ message just like Jay and Ramya. “Some people I know had queue positions as low as 250 and even they couldn’t secure tickets,” Rahul recounted, underscoring the enigma surrounding the ticketing process.
The frustration did not end with failed attempts to buy tickets. Adding salt to the wound, Coldplay tickets started to appear on resale platforms at exorbitant prices, causing further outrage among fans. Ramya noted the staggering price hike, with tickets originally priced at ₹6,500 now being resold for ₹80,000, and even ₹35,000 tickets skyrocketing to ₹1.8 lakh. “It’s heartbreaking for fans. We who worked hard to bring Coldplay to Mumbai by filling out surveys, only to see tickets being resold for huge profits,” she said.
Fayaz, an intern at a law firm, echoed the sentiment, sharing anecdotes of friends profiting off the resale market. “A friend of mine who managed to get a ₹12,500 ticket is now selling it for ₹1 lakh. Another friend is reselling a ₹6,500 ticket for ₹40,000,” Fayaz revealed, painting a stark picture of the opportunistic reselling culture that has burgeoned.
The sheer magnitude of these resale prices has drawn criticism from many corners, as fans and observers alike have decried the manipulation of ticket availability for profit. Critics argue that such inflated prices not only exploit the genuine fans but also tarnish the joy and excitement associated with live music performances.
As disgruntled fans flood social media platforms with their woes, some have called for greater regulatory measures to be put in place to prevent such resale exploitations. Suggestions range from identity-based ticketing systems to stricter resale regulations, aiming to ensure that tickets end up in the hands of real fans rather than profiteers.
The situation has cast a shadow over what was anticipated to be a monumental event for Coldplay’s extensive fan base in India. The extreme demand and subsequent resale exploitation have led many to question the fairness and effectiveness of current ticket distribution systems.
As the concert date approaches, it remains to be seen whether additional preventive measures or regulatory interventions will be enforced to curb the burgeoning resale market, and restore a semblance of fairness and accessibility for the loyal fans who had eagerly awaited the chance to see their favorite band live. Published – September 22, 2024 08:24 pm IST
Telangana
/
Hyderabad
/
Concert
