Coldplay tickets at skyrocketing resale prices irk UAE fans

Even though tickets for British band Coldplay’s New Year’s Eve gig in Abu Dhabi officially sold out in all categories within hours on Wednesday, fans were puzzled and angry that a large number of tickets have turned up for resale online.

A search on viagogo, the international ticket market place, and dubizzle, the UAE’s leading classifieds site, threw up umpteen offers at inflated prices.

A screenshot of one ticket resale website has been making the rounds on social media showing the most affordable ticket being priced at $4,900 (AED 18,000) while the VIP tickets maxing out at $26,000 (AED 96,000).

The highly popular band, led by crooner and front man Chris Martin, last performed in the UAE in 2011. They are currently on their ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ tour, supporting the album by that name which released last year.

The band’s six previous world tours were all completely sold out. Reportedly, the Abu Dhabi concert sold out within hours when its went on sale at noon on Wednesday - it the fastest-selling event in the history of Flash Entertainment.

Tickets for the Abu Dhabi show were priced at $95 (Dh350) to $407 (Dh1,495). Flash Entertainment and telecom du had offered 20 percent discount on the Coldplay performance for F1 Grand Prix concert-goers and its customers.

The venue holds 25,000 people, but it could not be confirmed how many tickets were sold.

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