EY-Parthenon, BookMyShow Report: Coldplay Concerts Generate Rs 641 Cr Economic Windfall

New EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow Live report reveals ?641 crore economic impact, redefines Ahmedabad as a global entertainment hub.

In a landmark move for India’s live entertainment sector, EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow Live have unveiled a data-driven report titled ‘India’s Rising Concert Economy: Coldplay’s Ahmedabad Tour Sets the Blueprint for India’s Next Cultural Boomtowns.’ The study dissects the massive economic, cultural, and infrastructural impact of Coldplay’s historic two-night performance in Ahmedabad—India’s largest-ever live entertainment spectacle.

Produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the concerts brought over 2.2 lakh fans to the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium, in a first-of-its-kind transformation of a sports venue into a world-class concert arena. The report not only captures the ?641 crore economic boost but also lays out a replicable model for Indian cities to harness the potential of the concert economy.

A Concert That Rewrote the Rulebook

Coldplay’s ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour in Ahmedabad catalyzed a staggering ?392 crore in direct economic value for the city, including record-breaking tourism inflows, transport demand, and hospitality spend. Hotel prices soared up to ?90,000 a night, the local metro and airport hit new highs in footfall, and over ?72 crore was generated in GST for the central government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, cited the concert as “proof of how much scope live concerts have in India,” underlining the sector’s rising significance.

Shifting Cultural Perceptions

More than 78% of concertgoers now view Ahmedabad as a concert city, with 66% expressing a desire to return for similar events. Attendees, largely under 35, not only consumed entertainment but explored the city—shopping locally and engaging with its cultural offerings.

Anil Makhija, COO of BookMyShow Live, noted, “This wasn’t just a concert—it was an economic and cultural ignition point for India’s next entertainment cities.”

Employment & Sustainability Milestones

The event engaged 15,000 personnel, including 9,000 from Ahmedabad alone, and demonstrated best-in-class sustainability practices—diverting 95% of waste from landfills and using 100,000 biodegradable cups. Accessibility and crowd management protocols set new benchmarks for India.

A Roadmap for India’s Cultural Renaissance

EY-Parthenon Partner Raghav Anand highlighted the industry’s explosive growth, now exceeding ?12,000 crore and projected to rise at 19% CAGR. The report calls for policy reforms, public-private partnerships, single-window clearances, and infrastructure development to help states unlock the full economic potential of such mega-events.

Ashish Hemrajani, Founder & CEO of BookMyShow, emphasized decentralizing entertainment beyond metros: “Choosing Ahmedabad was about vision and infrastructure readiness. This is the beginning of India’s emergence as a global entertainment powerhouse.”

From regulatory recommendations to scalable event models, the report offers a powerful framework to transform Indian cities into vibrant, globally competitive cultural hubs.

India’s Future Is Live

With the Coldplay tour as its marquee case study, India’s Rising Concert Economy is a clarion call to governments and stakeholders: live entertainment is no longer an add-on—it is central to India’s cultural, economic, and global story.