‘Nothing Short Of Extraordinary’: Coldplay Makes Concert History In India

Coldplay made history in India, when performing two nights at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Jan 25-26, moving 223,570 tickets at a $15,696,814 gross, according to the box office report submitted to Pollstar for the shows.

The concert followed three sold out shows at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium (163,711 tickets sold for $12,819,848.

The concerts were the largest stadium shows of the 21st century for any artist, concludes a new report released by consulting firm EY-Parthenon, and BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow, and promoter and producer of the shows, and local partner of global tour promoter Live Nation.

The report is titled “India’s rising concert economy: Coldplay’s Ahmedabad tour sets the blueprint for India’s next cultural boomtowns,” and it captures the impact live entertainment has on the economy, culture, workforce, sustainability, and tourism in India.

According to the report, the shows generated an estimated economic impact of $75 million for India, including a direct boost of $46 million to Ahmedabad, the country’s seventh-largest city.

The report signals “India’s arrival as a high-value, high-potential destination for global entertainment,” according to the accompanying press release, which states, “it positions the country as a greenfield opportunity for international promoters, artists, investors and policymakers — no longer on the fringe of the global touring circuit, but a strategic market primed for scale.”

See: Coldplay Plays Biggest Shows Of Its Career, Drawing 222,000 Fans Across Two Nights 

Key findings include:

● The shows drew visitors from more than 500 cities spanning all 28 Indian states and five union territories.
● For every US dollar spent on a ticket, attendees contributed an additional $5.85 towards services like hospitality, travel, local shopping, and dining, creating a substantial ripple effect across the economy.
● Ahmedabad was firmly positioned as a global tourist hotspot, with more than 138,000 travellers, 980 flights and fully booked trains, including special superfast trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through BookMyShow Live’s partnership with the Western Railway.
● Rooms that typically cost around $176 during peak season soared to $583 – $1,054 within just two days of the Ahmedabad shows’ announcement.
● Nearly eight in 10 attendees (79%) were under the age of 35, reflecting a powerful resonance with younger audiences who typically drive entertainment spending.
● Over 80% of surveyed attendees shared a positive outlook on the concert experience, with 78% of surveyed attendees now viewing Ahmedabad as a major concert city and two-thirds (66%) expressed a strong willingness to return.
● 88% of attendees posted or shared their experiences online.
● The seamless, world-class concert experience was powered by 15,000 personnel, with around 9,000 of the total workforce from Ahmedabad, underscoring the event’s direct contribution to local employment.
● Sustainability at scale: 95% of waste was diverted from landfills.

With over 13 million users logging on to BookMyShow in pursuit of tickets during the on-sale of the Mumbai shows, the unprecedented demand “underscored a new era of fan fervor and readiness for large-scale entertainment,” the press release continues.

BookMyShow Live, in close collaboration with government and local authorities, rose to the occasion: from operating special trains and expanding metro services to forging strategic airline partnerships that eased access and movement for thousands.

As India’s full-stack live entertainment powerhouse, BookMyShow (Bigtree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.) has produced close to 900 large-scale events in just three years, with 15-plus million footfalls in the fiscal year of 25, and an international roster that includes Ed Sheeran, Green Day, Shawn Mendes, OneRepublic, Maroon 5, Backstreet Boys, U2, Imagine Dragons, Jonas Brothers, Deep Purple and Goo Goo Dolls.

With Guns N’ Roses and Travis Scott up next and three successful editions of Lollapalooza India under its belt, the press release concludes, that “the producer and promoter continues to push boundaries. Backed by the 25-year legacy of Big Tree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., BookMyShow Live is driving the next chapter of global live entertainment, with India at the center.”

Coldplay are managed by the team of Phil Harvey, Mandi Frost, and Arlene Moon, and repped by WME’s Josh Javor worldwide excluding North America, where Wasserman Music’s Marty Diamond, and Larry Webman are the band’s agents.

Comments:

Ashish Hemrajani, Founder & CEO, BookMyShow: “Bringing one of the world’s biggest bands to India required meticulous planning, collaboration, and a shared vision. Choosing Ahmedabad for Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour was driven by two key factors – unprecedented consumer demand and the city’s infrastructure. After three sold-out shows in Mumbai, the Narendra Modi Stadium allowed us to host over 1 lakh fans per night. The support from local authorities was instrumental and together, we worked towards addressing the challenges like preserving cricket pitches with specialized turf protectors. Decentralizing live entertainment is the future and as more global artists include India in their tours, we are committed to making it happen. The economic impact of this concert was massive, boosting revenue at city, state, and national levels. A collaborative approach between industry and government to streamline regulations will be a game-changer, positioning India as a global hub for live entertainment.”

Jake Berry, CEO, Jake Berry Productions and Consultant: “I’ve had the privilege of touring with some of the biggest names in music across the world and what we pulled off in Ahmedabad with Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour was nothing short of extraordinary. From the outset, we knew this would be a monumental undertaking – planning began over 18 months in advance, with every detail mapped out meticulously, right down to where each 40-foot container would be placed. The Narendra Modi Stadium transformed into a spectacular concert venue and every challenge was addressed head-on – from complex logistics to protecting cricket pitches with specialized turf covers. From the scale of production to the seamless execution, this show stood shoulder to shoulder with the best stadium concerts anywhere on the planet. BookMyShow Live brought not just vision, but the operational muscle and cultural understanding needed to make a show of this magnitude happen in India, setting a new benchmark.” –

Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: “In a country with such a rich heritage in music, dance, and storytelling, with such a large pool of youth and a massive consumer base for concerts, there are vast opportunities for the concert economy. In the past decade, both the trend and demand for live events have grown. You must have seen the incredible images from the Coldplay concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad in recent days. This is proof of how much scope live concerts have in India.”

Raghav Anand, partner and leader – digital, media and convergence, EY-Parthenon India: “As we witness the dynamic growth of India’s live entertainment sector, which has surpassed the INR 12,000 crore ($1.4 billion) mark in 2024 and is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of around 19% over the next three years, the increasing consumer spends are fueling this transformative journey. This surge in consumer enthusiasm for world-class events reflects not just a rising disposable income but an evolving cultural fabric that craves immersive experiences. The economic potential of this sector is tremendous, creating a ripple effect across allied industries and fostering opportunities for creators and local professionals alike.”

Jay Shah, chairman, International Cricket Council (ICC): “The Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad stands as a landmark moment – not just for Gujarat, but for India’s growing stature in the global live entertainment industry. To see Narendra Modi Stadium transform into a world-class music venue and welcome over 2.2 lakh fans from across the country and the world is truly historic, creating milestones and ripples on the global stage for mega artists. The seamless execution, the scale, and the cultural celebration reaffirm India’s readiness to host iconic international acts, while also delivering tangible economic value and putting Indian cities on the global map. This is just the beginning.”

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