NEW DELHI: British rock band Coldplay’s two-night ‘Music of the Spheres’ concerts in Ahmedabad created an estimated overall economic impact of Rs 641 crore, with a direct boost of Rs 392 crore to the city’s economy, a report by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow Live revealed on Wednesday.
The concerts, dubbed India’s largest-ever live entertainment spectacle, significantly contributed to local infrastructure, hospitality and cultural tourism.
As per news agency PTI, 86 per cent of the attendees had travelled from outside the host city, leading to sharp rises in spending on hotels, transport, dining and retail. The event also contributed Rs 72 crore in GST revenue to the Government of India, demonstrating the fiscal strength of the live entertainment sector.
Raghav Anand, partner and leader – digital, media and convergence at EY-Parthenon, said, “As we witness the dynamic growth of India’s live entertainment sector, which has surpassed the Rs 12,000 crore mark in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 19 per cent over the next three years, the increasing consumer spends are fuelling this transformative journey.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also endorsed the concert economy in his address at the Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025. Citing Coldplay’s performances in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, he said, “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.”
The Ahmedabad shows also triggered a shift in city branding and created a new template for mega-event infrastructure. The concerts, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on January 25 and 26, drew more than 2.5 lakh visitors, with over 1.7 lakh coming from outside Gujarat, according to ICC chair Jay Shah.
Calling it a “proud moment for India,” Shah said, “Coldplay recorded their biggest concert with 1,34,000 in attendance,” and added that Ahmedabad has now become an epicentre for both sporting and entertainment events.
Coldplay, too, acknowledged the scale, writing on X: “Our biggest ever concert. Totally mind-blowing. Thank you Ahmedabad.”
Fans and officials alike celebrated the event’s seamless execution and massive turnout.
