
Coldplay sets record in UAE
Last week, legendary British band Coldplay set a new record by playing the biggest concert series in the history of the United Arab Emirates. Four sold-out shows took place at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium as part of the ‘Music of the Spheres’ world tour. More than 200,000 fans gathered in the UAE capital to witness this historic event, which was the band’s only stop in the Middle East this year.
The stadium, which holds 45,000 spectators during the national football team’s matches, was packed to overflowing thanks to fans gaining access to the pitch to accommodate even more spectators. The event surpassed the previous record set by Ed Sheeran in Dubai when he performed in front of 69,000 people at Sevens Stadium last January.
Since the concerts were announced, fans have been waiting in queues on Ticketmaster to get their hands on the coveted tickets. The high demand led to the originally planned one show turning into four so that as many fans as possible could enjoy the performance.
Those who were able to purchase tickets were treated to an incredible programme filled with the band’s hits, bright lights and unforgettable moments. Chris Martin and his team performed songs from their extensive repertoire, including tracks from their tenth studio album, Moon Music.
The concert series was organised by Live Nation Middle East and supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism. Due to the scale of the events, special transport arrangements were made for spectators to ensure comfortable access to the stadium. Free shuttles were organised between Expo City Dubai and Abu Dhabi on the days of all four shows, as well as additional shuttles around the capital.
Chris Martin has hinted that the band are considering ending their career after the release of their twelfth album, which could be one of the last opportunities for fans in the region to see them live. However, James Craven, president of Live Nation Middle East, left hope for a future collaboration with Coldplay, noting that organising the biggest concert series in the region was the result of the team’s hard work and the support of local authorities.
Source: TimeOut