Ahmedabad witnessed a cultural and economic phenomenon when British rock band Coldplay lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium for their Music of the Spheres tour. What began as a musical spectacle turned into a powerful economic engine, generating a whopping Rs 641 crore in economic impact, according to a report by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow Live. This wasn’t just a concert—it was a case study in how live entertainment can transform a city overnight.

Over two nights, the city welcomed more than 2.5 lakh visitors, with nearly 86% of attendees traveling from outside Ahmedabad. The ripple effect on local businesses was immediate and significant. Hotels were fully booked, restaurants saw record footfalls, and local transport providers—from cabs to rickshaws—had their busiest days in recent memory. Altogether, this surge of activity directly injected Rs 392 crore into the city’s economy.

But the impact didn’t stop there. The concerts contributed Rs 72 crore in GST revenue, highlighting the growing fiscal importance of India’s live entertainment sector. Experts say the industry has already crossed the Rs 12,000 crore mark in 2024 and is growing at a steady CAGR of 19%. EY’s Raghav Anand emphasized how consumer spending in this space is reshaping how India views entertainment and infrastructure development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also endorsed the potential of the “concert economy” during the Make in Odisha Conclave 2025. Referring to the Coldplay concerts in both Ahmedabad and Mumbai, he said India’s rich tradition in music and storytelling, combined with its youthful population, positions the country as a fertile ground for live event tourism. His comments marked a new level of recognition for the role such events play in cultural and economic progress.

For Ahmedabad, the Coldplay concerts were more than just a high-decibel event—they were a landmark in city branding. The flawless execution, massive turnout, and global attention established the city as not only a cricketing hub but also a rising epicentre of mega live events. Coldplay themselves acknowledged this on X (formerly Twitter), calling it their “biggest ever concert” with over 1.34 lakh in attendance on a single night.

In the aftermath, both fans and city officials are hailing the event as a blueprint for how India can host world-class entertainment while boosting the local economy. For Ahmedabad, this may just be the beginning of a new era—where music, money, and momentum come together in perfect harmony.

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Source – Times Of India