“On one hand we get figures of Indian salary percentiles and on the other there’s near mania for concert tickets. Who’s paying so much and buying all these tickets? What percentage of your monthly salary are people spending on these tickets? Some YOLO logic here? What?” Bhagat posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Grover, the former Shark Tank judge and co-founder of BharatPe, responded by pointing out the vast income disparities within the country. “It’s a large country – and lot is disparity on either end – why is filling of 80k stadium surprising anyone? 800k students go overseas every year – spending $50K on an average. Also now that most people who can afford have phones – things will fill up instantly as well,” he replied, arguing that the massive demand was to be expected.
This debate quickly took off online, with fans and critics alike chiming in. Some agreed with Bhagat, calling the craze an example of misplaced priorities, while others pointed to the large number of students and professionals in India who can afford such luxuries. “There are 2 worlds—one is flaunting their money, and the other is struggling to meet family expenses. This disparity in income is increasing rapidly,” one user observed.
Coldplay’s third Mumbai concert, set for January 21, 2025, was added after “phenomenal demand,” according to a post on X from the band. Tickets for all three dates—January 18, 19, and 21—sold out within minutes, leaving fans battling technical issues on BookMyShow, where the site crashed due to heavy traffic.
Frustrated fans flooded social media, sharing screenshots of frozen pages and virtual queues that extended to hundreds of thousands of people. “Because of heavy traffic, the queue is moving slower than expected. Thank you for your patience!” read a message from the ticket platform. A helpful fan suggested, “If you are in the queue for Coldplay tickets and it’s going slow, refresh your page. It’s going to be quicker.”
Some even reported seeing tickets on resell platforms like Viagogo at inflated prices. “Dear @coldplay, fans in India are struggling to get tickets on @Bookmyshow_live with waitlists over 300k, but platforms like Viagogo are selling them at inflated prices,” one user pointed out.
As debates around the ticket prices continued, others questioned the value of such experiences. One user argued, “Attending a Coldplay concert? That’s just chasing a fleeting dopamine hit. Artificial beats, flashy lights, and no real substance—what are we really getting out of it?”
Despite the frustrations and ongoing debates, Coldplay’s return to India after nearly a decade is set to be a major highlight for fans who managed to secure tickets. However, the frenzy has underscored a broader issue of income inequality and consumer behavior around high-demand events, with many left asking if the experience is truly worth the cost.
