Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour is set to hit Mumbai in January 2025 with three highly anticipated concerts. Fans eagerly waited for hours in virtual queues on BookMyShow, the official ticketing platform, only to find tickets sold out quickly. This overwhelming demand even led to the addition of a third show on January 21, 2025, yet disappointment persists for many fans.
Ticket Reselling Skyrockets Prices
Although BookMyShow sold out the tickets within hours, unauthorized reselling platforms have listed tickets at inflated prices. Platforms like Viagogo have been found offering tickets priced as high as ₹3 lakh, with some reaching a staggering ₹7.7 lakh for premium seats. Originally, tickets were priced between ₹5,000 and ₹35,000, making these massive markups shocking.
BookMyShow’s Warnings on Unauthorized Sales
BookMyShow quickly issued warnings, advising fans to avoid purchasing from unauthorized reselling platforms like Viagogo. They emphasized that tickets bought from such sources would be invalid, reminding fans that scalping is illegal and punishable by law in India. Despite this, the high demand and lack of availability on official channels continue to drive fans towards these costly reselling platforms.
Fans Accuse BookMyShow of Mismanagement
Frustrated fans took to social media, blaming BookMyShow for creating a system that allegedly benefits scalpers. Many criticized the platform for not tying tickets to customer IDs, allowing resellers to buy in bulk and list them at exorbitant prices. Some even accused BookMyShow of holding tickets for high-profile individuals, influencers, and celebrities, creating an artificial shortage that pushed prices higher.
Scalping’s Legal Implications in India
Ticket scalping is illegal in India, yet remains a persistent issue. BookMyShow’s warnings highlight the importance of purchasing tickets from official platforms to avoid scams, yet the problem continues unabated. The question of how unauthorized platforms like Viagogo are acquiring tickets remains a point of contention, with fans demanding stricter regulation to curb scalping.
Conclusion
Coldplay’s upcoming Mumbai concerts have stirred excitement but also frustration. With tickets being resold for exorbitant prices despite warnings, the concert is becoming a symbol of fans’ growing anger toward scalping and mismanagement in India’s ticketing industry.
