Coldplay’s recent electrifying two-night residency at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad wasn’t just a musical phenomenon; it was a powerful demonstration of the burgeoning concert economy in India. Welcoming over 222,000 enthusiastic attendees, the event orchestrated an estimated total economic impact of a staggering Rs 641 crore. A significant portion of this, approximately Rs 392 crore, directly reverberated through Ahmedabad’s economy, fueling expenditures across vital sectors like travel, accommodation, dining, retail, and local transportation.

EY’s insightful report, aptly titled ‘India’s rising concert economy,’ illuminates the remarkable multiplier effect of such large-scale events. For every Rs 100 spent on a concert ticket, attendees injected an additional Rs 585 into associated services, creating a cascading wave of revenue across diverse industries.

The hospitality, tourism, and transportation sectors experienced an unprecedented surge. Ahmedabad airport shattered its previous records, handling a remarkable 138,000 passengers during the three-day concert window. The railway network operated at full capacity, necessitating the addition of special trains to accommodate the massive influx of concertgoers. Even Ahmedabad’s metro services witnessed their highest-ever ridership, with extended operating hours catering to the heightened demand. This extraordinary movement of people underscored the city’s infrastructural capabilities and unveiled the considerable untapped tourism potential residing within India’s Tier-2 cities.

Ahmedabad was transformed into a temporary tourism epicenter. Hotels reached full occupancy, with room rates soaring to as high as Rs 1.6 lakh for a mere two-night stay. Online travel aggregators like MakeMyTrip reported an astounding 2.7-fold increase in accommodation bookings, while Cleartrip registered an even more remarkable 1,047% surge in hotel reservations.

The concert’s reach extended far beyond the stadium walls through an exclusive live stream on Disney+ Hotstar on January 26, 2025. This digital offering allowed fans across India to partake in the experience from the comfort of their homes with their existing subscriptions. The digital stream garnered an impressive 165 million minutes of viewing time, positioning it as one of India’s most-watched live music events, rivalling the engagement levels of even some major cricket finals.

The event also generated significant buzz across the digital landscape, amassing over 350 million social media impressions and a staggering 1.2 billion in media reach. This amplified the event’s impact, further solidifying its cultural significance.

Several brands within the fashion, lifestyle, and Food & Beverage (F&B) sectors experienced a notable upswing in engagement and sales, as highlighted in the report. Myntra witnessed a remarkable 3x year-on-year surge in concert-related merchandise sales, while AJIO recorded a substantial 30% increase in youth fashion categories. Notably, nearly 68% of attendees made specific fashion purchases in anticipation of the concert. The venue itself hosted 130 stalls and nine food courts, supported by nearly 3,000 staff. Restaurants, cafes, and food stalls in and around the stadium reported a significant 30–40% increase in footfall.

Beyond the impressive economic figures, the concert generated substantial employment opportunities. Approximately 15,000 individuals were involved in making the event a success, ranging from event staff and dedicated student volunteers to law enforcement personnel and hospitality workers. Importantly, over 9,000 of these individuals hailed directly from Ahmedabad, providing a significant boost to local livelihoods.

Furthermore, the event established commendable benchmarks for accessibility and inclusivity. A range of facilities catered to persons with disabilities, including the provision of sign language interpreters, innovative vibration-enabled jackets for the hearing-impaired, and designated sensory rooms, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive experience for all attendees. Coldplay’s Ahmedabad concerts serve as a compelling case study, underscoring the profound economic and social benefits that large-scale music events can bring to host cities and the nation as a whole, signaling a vibrant future for India’s concert economy.

Author: Janvi Joshi