Opening Act
June 8, 2024. I don’t think I will easily forget this date because it was one of the most special nights of my life. Yes, this is the date I went to Coldplay concert which is a world-famous English rock band (I don’t think their current music is rock, but that’s how they’re known). As I write this, it’s been over a month and a half since the concert, yet I still feel the excitement inside me and look at the social media posts of people who went to the concert after me with envy. I’m sure many people who attended the concert feel similar emotions to what I experienced.
Now that I’ve relieved myself by sharing my feelings about the concert, I’d like to talk about the content of this post. I believe that reading about my Coldplay concert experience and tips will be beneficial for those who are planning to attend a Coldplay concert for the first time or planning to attend other big concerts. For this reason, I tried to convey all the details of my unique experience. Enjoy the read!
How and where did I get Coldplay concert ticket?
When we shared posts about the concert, we received many questions regarding tickets. Based on my own experience, I will share my advice on how to get tickets.
Follow the Concert Tours
The first thing you need to do to get tickets is to follow the artist you want to see on social media and keep an eye on their tour. Coldplay announced the 2024 European leg of their Music of the Spheres (MOTS) tour on their social media accounts on July 20, 2023. Tickets went on presale five days later, and we bought our tickets for the June 8, 2024 concert on July 25, 2023. Generally, major concerts are announced 8-12 months in advance, and tickets go on sale a few days after the announcement. Therefore, it’s beneficial to follow and purchase them as soon as they are available.
Register for Presale
As I mentioned, Coldplay tickets went on presale on July 25. The general sale began on July 28. To buy tickets from the presale, I registered with my email address on the Coldplay website. A code was sent to my email address a while before the ticket sales started. With this code, I had the opportunity to purchase tickets during the presale.
Most of Coldplay’s concert tickets sold out during the presale before they even went on general sale. Therefore, it’s important to register for presale. For Coldplay, you need to register with your email separately for each concert, but it’s not a hassle. I registered for presale for a few different cities. This way, I had several chances to get tickets. Since the presale for Athens started earlier than other cities, I started by trying for that and managed to get tickets. So, I didn’t need to try for tickets in other cities.
This presale procedure may not apply to every artist. Many artists’ concert tickets go directly to general sale.
Get to the Site Early for Ticket Sales
In Europe, concert tickets are often sold through Ticketmaster, but this isn’t always the case. Don’t worry; the artist’s website will direct you to the relevant site for purchasing tickets. One of the most important things for buying tickets is to get to the site early.
For example, if ticket sales start at 10 a.m., it’s a good idea to start checking the site from 9 a.m. to see if the queue has started. Instead of everyone entering the site at the same time when sales begin, there is a system that places you in an online queue based on your entry time. After sales start, people access the site according to their queue position. As people buy tickets and leave the site, the queue moves forward. I think this system is quite fair. Usually, you can also see your position in the queue and the estimated waiting time on the screen. On some sites, even if you close the page and come back, your place in the queue is not lost. The main thing you need to do is to get to the site and join the queue well before the sales start time.
Be Patient
You may need to wait in line for several hours depending on the demand for the event you’re trying to buy tickets. It’s important to be patient. My advice is to let the site stay open and periodically check your queue status. If it’s still not your turn, you can return to your other tasks. Once you’re in the queue, there’s nothing else you can do but wait. When the wait is over, you can quickly secure your tickets and exit the site. After making the payment, remember to save a copy of the confirmation or any proof of purchase to your computer if the tickets haven’t arrived yet.
Check Your Credit Card
Actually, this isn’t the final step but one of the first things you should do. If you’re using a credit card or virtual card, make sure to check details such as whether there’s enough credit available and if international transactions are enabled.
Keep in mind that debit cards may not be accepted for online purchases for some sites.
Alternative Way to Buy Tickets: Viagogo
Viagogo is a website where second-hand tickets are sold. While it is generally reliable, I’ve heard of occasional negative experiences. Some of our friends who bought tickets from Viagogo were able to attend the concert without any issue. If you can’t find tickets, you might consider checking this site, which can be thought of as an “online legal resale market,” and purchase tickets from other people.
After going through these steps, I found it hard to believe when I finally bought the concert ticket. The ticket was open on the screen in front of me, and we were staring at each other. I was extremely excited. On one hand, the concert date felt so far away that I didn’t even know what to think. I had approximately 10.5 months ahead of me. I had no idea how the time would pass.
Waiting and Preparation for the Coldplay Concert
My friends and I started looking for accommodation about three months after buying the ticket. While browsing a few places on Airbnb, we received a surprising message from one host. One of the hot topics in Greece was the poor condition of the Athens Olympic Stadium, where the Coldplay concert was set to take place, raising concerns about its safety for hosting such a large event. The stadium, which hosted the 2004 Athens Olympics, had deteriorated over the years, only occasionally used for football matches. Consequently, there were public discussions about the concert’s status being at risk, and there were talks about moving the concert to another venue.
Regardless of the situation, we kept our hope alive. Coldplay was set to perform in Greece for the first time and was expected to deliver one of the most unforgettable live performance in the country, and it would be for two nights in a row. Considering the potential influx of tourists the concert would bring to the city, it was a major event, and the Greek government couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.
Keep an Eye on Flight Ticket Promotions
If you’ve purchased tickets for an event abroad, such as a concert or a match, well in advance, I recommend not rushing to buy your flight tickets. If possible, you can wait for flight ticket promotions. To find promotions, find the airlines flying to your destination city and follow their social media channels for updates on their offers. We did exactly this for our trip to Athens. Despite the uncertainty about the concert due to the situation mentioned above, we didn’t want to miss a promotion from a budget friendly airline in Türkiye. This way, we were able to purchase our outbound tickets at a very reasonable price (28€).
Accommodation
Until you purchase your flight tickets, your travel dates might not be set in stone. Therefore, I recommend arranging your accommodation and, if needed, visa appointment dates after securing your flight tickets. Naturally, you might think that hotels and Airbnb options will fill up and become more expensive well in advance due to the large event, and you might want to book early for this reason. So, even if your travel dates are not yet confirmed, you can arrange an accommodation in advance. Let me explain what I did in Athens as an example.
After buying the Coldplay concert ticket, I booked a reservation at a hotel I had previously stayed at and liked (I included the hotel and all details in the Athens City Guide). For the concert on June 8, I made a reservation covering two or three days before and after the concert, between June 5 and June 10. We thought we would stay for a maximum of three or four days. After purchasing the flight tickets, our travel dates were set for June 6 to June 10. I only shortened the reservation period.
If you make a reservation for a few days longer than your anticipated stay, you can adjust the reservation dates according to your flight tickets once you have them. This way, even if you don’t have your flight tickets yet, you’ll have a guaranteed hotel reservation. The key detail here is that the reservation should be flexible.
Visa
If you’re traveling to a country where you need a visa, it’s important to consider the time required to obtain the visa.
Coldplay Concert Is Approaching
Given that I’m writing this, it’s not hard to guess the ending of the story about the concert being in jeopardy, as described in the previous section. Coincidentally, while I was in Athens again a few months before the concert, the Greek government announced plans to remove the roof panels threatening the stadium’s safety, promising to complete the process by April. This meant that the stadium would be ready for the concert in June. Upon hearing this news, I felt quite relieved and began counting down the days.
Arrival in Athens
We arrived in Athens early in the morning, two days before the concert. Almost everyone on the plane was going for the concert. Even before we landed, I began to feel that collective excitement. When we landed at Athens Airport, I saw that people had come from as far as the U.S. to attend the concert. It was my third time in Athens, but first time in summer. I think the season had an impact, but I had never seen the city so crowded. It was exciting to witness firsthand how a major event can transform the atmosphere of a city.
Concert Day
On the concert day, Coldplay’s social media accounts announced the entire day’s schedule, including the opening times for the stadium gates and the set times for all the supporting artists. The organization was very successful in sticking to the schedule, unlike any other concert events.
The gates were set to open at 17:00, with the first supporting artist starting at 19:00, and Coldplay was scheduled to perform at 21:15. We arrived around 16:40 and wandered around the stadium. There were several trucks selling official Coldplay merchandise. We quickly bought some t-shirts we liked. The merchandise included posters, t-shirts, water bottles, and other items. T-shirt price was €45. Here’s a useful tip: the youth t-shirts were €30, and a youth L size was the same size as an adult S size, and even a bit larger. If you wear size S or M and there’s a youth tshirt you like, you can buy the youth L size without hesitation. This way, you’ll save €15 (or use it to buy another item).
With the mix of panic and excitement, and the added factor of hot and sunny weather, unfortunately, it completely slipped my mind to take photos of the surroundings until we were inside the stadium and seated. So, I don’t have any photos related to these parts of the experience.
Entering the Stadium
We entered the stadium an hour after the gates opened, around 18:00. If you’re not in a rush to grab a spot right in front of the stage, you don’t need to enter right when the gates open. In fact, there’s often a crowd of people eager to get in at that time. If you enter around 18:00, after the initial rush has passed, you’ll be more comfortable. I wouldn’t recommend arriving too early, but similarly, arriving too late is not advisable either. As the concert time approaches, the lines at the trucks selling Coldplay merchandise, the food and drink stalls, and the toilets get longer. If you plan to spend time at these spots, avoid arriving too late. Additionally, I enjoy listening to the supporting artists as it helps me get warmed up for the main concert and discover new music.
What Can You Bring to the Concert?
Backpacks were not allowed into the stadium. However, you could bring small shoulder bags and waist packs.
Water is an important topic. As part of Coldplay’s sustainability practices aimed at reducing waste, plastic bottles were not allowed inside. Normally, you are encouraged to bring your own reusable bottle and use the water refill stations inside. However, one challenge with this policy was that glass or metal bottles were not permitted; only plastic bottles were allowed. If you’re wondering whether water is available for purchase inside, it is. You can buy water in cardboard bottles for €1. Additionally, you have the option to refill these cardboard containers for free at the water refill stations inside.
Details about what items are allowed and not allowed at the event are usually announced before the concert. It’s a good idea to check the entry rules before heading to the event.
Food & Drink at the Concert Venue
Inside the venue, they sold beer (€7), soft drinks, cocktails, and various sandwiches in addition to water. I only remember the prices for beer and water, but as you can tell from the beer price, they are slightly above average but still reasonable. To purchase any food or drink, you need to first stand in line to get tokens. After obtaining and paying for the tokens, you can go to the designated counter to exchange the tokens for your items. Since the token line tends to be the longest, once you have your tokens, the wait for food and drink is minimal. Therefore, I recommend getting your tokens in bulk when you’re in line for them, as the queues get longer as the concert time approaches.
Toilet at the Concert Venue
Although often overlooked, this is an important issue, especially for female readers. From what I observed, the concert venue only provided prefabricated cabin toilets, likely to reduce water usage. Although the labels indicated separate toilets for women and men, people started using them interchangeably as the concert approached and the lines grew longer. The earlier you handle things like using the restroom and getting food and drinks before the concert, the more comfortable you’ll be.
Coldplay Concert Experience
Songs
What made the concert experience valuable for me was Coldplay’s beautiful songs. Listening to a live performance from one of the bands that has been a haven for me over the years and has always had a special place in my heart was truly extraordinary. Additionally, the stage show that accompanied it highlighted why so many people, including myself, traveled from different countries and even continents to witness this performance live. So, why did Coldplay’s MOTS tour attract so much attention and become the second most-attended tour of all time as of July 2024? Let’s discuss this.
By the way, the website setlist.fm provides lists of songs played at concerts. I’m sharing the list of songs Coldplay played at the concert we attended.
Missing
The first reason is quite simple: people missed Coldplay concerts. Coldplay didn’t tour a full five years from 2017, when they wrapped up the A Head Full of Dreams Tour, until 2022. The reason for this was the band’s announcement that they wouldn’t embark on a new tour until they significantly reduced the carbon emissions from their tours and made them more sustainable. Thus, they didn’t tour after releasing their Everyday Life album in 2019. This led to their fans missing them greatly. Additionally, we can add the impact of the pandemic, which restricted our lives. People yearned for activities like traveling and attending concerts during the pandemic.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility
When Coldplay returned to the stage in 2022 with their MOTS tour, their approach was markedly more conscious and sustainable compared to previous tours. The band worked with various companies to bring about change in many areas, from the logistics and transportation methods they used to the materials employed on stage. Additionally, they made the energy sources powering the tour both sustainable and fun. Examples include stations where attendees could charge their phones by riding bicycles and areas where dancing generated energy.
Moreover, for every ticket purchased or Coldplay product bought, the team plants a tree. They also donate part of the concert ticket revenue to organizations that work to clean the oceans. Besides these initiatives, the tour featured thoughtfully considered details such as local artists as opening acts and vests that vibrate in sync with the music for the hearing-impaired, making the tour even more special.
With all these approaches, Coldplay made sure that audiences perceived the concerts not just as musical events but also as experiences with a social impact.
Concept of the Tour
Coldplay’s ninth album Music of the Spheres derives its name from a philosophical concept. According to ancient Greek philosophy, this concept posits that the movements and arrangements of celestial bodies—the Sun, Moon, and planets— create an inaudible but mathematically determinable music. The band, building the album around this theme, incorporates this sense into their songs. Particularly, the final track of the album, the 10-minute long “Coloratura,” is an experience that is definitely worth listening to and reflects the album very well. While the album has received various criticisms from Coldplay fans for straying completely from the band’s old and beloved style (and I agree there are some validity to these critiques), I think the album’s differences are not necessarily negative.
The tour effectively integrates the album’s philosophy. As seen in the photos, the concert experience elevates beyond a typical music event by incorporating elements such as planets moving within the stadium, various alien masks worn by the band in one act, and elaborate stage shows. These elements contribute to making the concert a unique and immersive experience.
I would like to let you know that the band’s guitarist, Jonny Buckland, has a background in mathematics and astrology. His background in mathematics and astrology does seem to align with the album’s cosmic and philosophical themes. It adds an extra layer of depth to the band’s creative process and how they integrate these ideas into their music and performances.
Wristbands
One of the elements that make concerts special is the audience’s participation. This interaction between artists and spectators results in unforgettable performances. Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, perfectly facilitated and managed this integration. The creative and unique shows throughout the concert added an extra layer of entertainment to the performance.
The pinnacle of engaging the audience in the show was the distribution of LED wristbands to everyone. These wristbands, which operate with infrared light and change color based on the rhythm of the song or movement, made the concert unique. Instead of describing the atmosphere created when a stadium full of people wore these wristbands, I’d prefer to show you a Coldplay concert video. It will help you understand the atmosphere better. The song “A Sky Full Of Stars” which I shared the video of, was one of the most memorable tracks of the show.
The organizers collect these wristbands after the concert to use at the next show. Of course, there are also people who want to take home a piece of this unforgettable concert by keeping the wristbands. For each city, a wristband recycling rate is recorded, showing how many of the distributed wristbands are returned. According to current data, Helsinki and Tokyo share the top spot with a 97% recycling rate. Well, it’s not a surprise to me.
Closing Act
I tried to detail the entire process I went through for you. As I wrote, I remembered how much effort and anticipation I put into the concert with my friends before we actually went. Between October and February, while I worried whether the concert would actually take place, I also faced various personal issues. I lost my job, a friend couldn’t come due to visa problems, and other things happened. I encountered many setbacks, but the only thing on my mind was being at the stadium that evening and having so much fun that I would forget everything else. That was my motivation for a long time. The concert met more than my expectations. I believe everyone, whether they are a fan of the band or not, should experience a Coldplay concert at least once in their life if they have the chance.
MOTS tour, which began in March 2022 in Costa Rica, will conclude in New Zealand in November 2024. The band might start a new tour in 2025 without missing a beat, alongside the release of their new album, Moon Music, coming out on October 4th. I’m eagerly looking forward to listen the album and have a chance to see them live again. Who knows, maybe Istanbul will join the tour for the first time.
For more details on Athens, you can check out my articles Athens City Guide and Athens Food Guide. I’ve covered everything you need to know about Athens!
You can view our concert reels on our Instagram profile and check out the Athens stories pinned to our profile to see the concert videos. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn!
Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.
