The excitement surrounding Coldplay’s Mumbai concerts took a sour turn as fans discovered tickets being resold at inflated prices on platforms like Viagogo. Millions of fans had patiently waited in virtual queues on BookMyShow, the official ticketing platform, for a chance to secure their seats. The demand was so high that Coldplay even announced a third show in response. However, as tickets became scarce, reseller sites capitalized on the frenzy, listing tickets at 10 to 20 times the original prices.
This angered fans, who took to social media to express their frustration. Many pointed out that the issue wasn’t limited to professional resellers; individuals were also trying to cash in on the hype by selling “extra” tickets they had purchased. One user demanded that BookMyShow and Coldplay take strict action against scalpers, while another lamented the practice of booking tickets solely to resell for profit.
Adding to the frustration, a quick look at Viagogo revealed standing tickets, initially priced at ₹6,450, being resold for ₹50,000 and above. Similarly, Level 2 tickets, which were sold for ₹12,500 on BookMyShow, were being advertised for a staggering ₹336,620 each on the reseller site. The exorbitant prices even extended to the most expensive Lounge tickets, with some listed for up to ₹10 lakh each.
The resale frenzy wasn’t confined to professional platforms. Hundreds of individuals on social media were also trying to sell their tickets at inflated prices. To further complicate matters, numerous accounts were running giveaways and contests for extra tickets, often promising free tickets to lucky winners. However, many users suspected these giveaways were simply a ploy to gain followers and engagement, with little intention of actually giving away tickets.
The situation highlights the growing issue of ticket scalping, a practice that exploits high demand to profit from reselling tickets at exorbitant prices. Fans are left feeling frustrated and cheated, while scalpers reap the benefits. The situation begs for action from authorities and ticketing platforms to protect genuine fans and ensure fair access to events.
