Coldplay is one of the most popular and successful bands in the world, with hits like “Yellow”, “Viva La Vida”, and “Paradise”. The British rock band formed in 1996 and has since gone on to sell over 100 million records worldwide. With their creative lyrics, melodic tunes, and impressive live performances, it’s no wonder Coldplay has cultivated a massive global following. The band is currently touring in support of their 2021 album Music of the Spheres. One of the stops on their world tour is Manchester, England. With multiple shows scheduled at Manchester’s largest venue, fans are eager to get tickets to see Coldplay live. But the big question is – are the shows already sold out?
Coldplay’s Popularity in Manchester
As a British band, Coldplay has always enjoyed immense popularity in their home country. Manchester, in particular, has been a stronghold for the band ever since they first emerged on the music scene in the late 90s. Located in the heart of the North West England region, Manchester has developed a reputation as a thriving hub for arts and culture. The city is home to various concert venues that have hosted Coldplay throughout their career. Legendary establishments like the Manchester Arena and Old Trafford Cricket Ground attract crowds in excess of 50,000 people. Coldplay’s tour stops in Manchester routinely sell out within minutes.
The band has a deep connection with Manchester, frequently referring to it as their “second home.” Coldplay frontman Chris Martin was born in Exeter but grew up just outside of Manchester. The city has greatly inspired their music over the years. In 2002, Coldplay filmed the music video for “In My Place” inside Manchester’s Emporium nightclub. Then in 2009, they became the first rock band to ever perform a full show at the Old Trafford cricket stadium. Coldplay also played a special “homecoming” show in Manchester on their 2016 tour in support of A Head Full of Dreams. Needless to say, Manchester holds a special place in Coldplay’s heart.
Coldplay’s 2022 World Tour
Coldplay is currently in the midst of their Music of the Spheres World Tour, which kicked off in March 2022. In support of their Billboard number 1 album, the tour will run through July 2023 with over 100 shows planned across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia. The Music Of The Spheres World Tour also has a sustainability focus, powered by audience kinetic energy, solar panels and recycled cooking oil. Their show production involves kinetic flooring, kinetic bikes and energy storing stationary bikes to help power the concert. This groundbreaking tour production aims to cut CO2 emissions by 50% compared to previous tours.
As part of the tour, Coldplay is slated to play four nights at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in late May 2022. The Etihad Stadium is the home of Manchester City Football Club and can hold over 50,000 attendees. Coldplay has packed this venue on previous tour stops and will no doubt do the same on their Music of the Spheres tour. These shows in Manchester mark the band’s only concerts scheduled in the United Kingdom so far. Understandably, the hometown shows are in incredibly high demand.
Are the Manchester Shows Sold Out?
With Coldplay’s enormous popularity plus a limited number of concerts planned in the UK, it was expected their Manchester shows would sell out fast. The official ticket sale for the general public was scheduled for October 2021. However, there were various pre-sales offered beforehand for fan club members and VIP buyers. Additionally, certain credit card holder pre-sales allowed people to purchase tickets a couple days early.
Once the public on-sale opened, rabid Coldplay fans rushed to secure tickets. Ticketmaster’s site struggled to keep up with the intense incoming traffic. The official ticket prices ranged from £65 – £150 per seat, but many resellers offered tickets for over £500 each. Based on the instant sell-out, it was evident that demand vastly exceeded supply for Coldplay’s Manchester concerts.
Within minutes, Ticketmaster declared all four shows were sold out. Desperate fans kept trying to grab last-minute seats, but the tickets were gone in the blink of an eye. Coldplay added a fifth Manchester date due to the astronomical demand, but even that concert sold out immediately. In short, Coldplay completely sold out their five-night Manchester run, with a total capacity crowd of 250,000 fans.
Coldplay Manchester Show Dates and Venue
Date | Venue |
---|---|
May 6, 2022 | Etihad Stadium |
May 7, 2022 | Etihad Stadium |
May 10, 2022 | Etihad Stadium |
May 11, 2022 | Etihad Stadium |
June 1, 2022 | Etihad Stadium |
Is There Still a Chance to Get Tickets?
Given the incredible demand, is there any hope left for disappointed fans who missed out on tickets? While Coldplay’s Manchester shows are technically “sold out”, there are still a few ways to score last minute seats:
- Ticket Resale Sites – Check trusted secondary marketplaces like StubHub for ticket resales and transfers. But beware of counterfeits.
- Official Ticketmaster Resale – Coldplay’s promoter may release some held-back tickets closer to show dates.
- Fan-to-Fan Sale Boards – Look for fans reselling extras on Twitter or Facebook fan groups.
- Contest Giveaways – Enter radio station and media contests for a chance to win.
- Outside the Venue – Some lucky fans may grab extras from scalpers outside the stadium.
These avenues likely won’t securing anything below the exorbitant reseller pricing. But for diehard fans who simply want to get in the door, it could be their last option. Persistence and flexibility on dates can also help land elusive spare tickets.
Why Did the Shows Sell Out So Quickly?
Given Coldplay’s Manchester concerts sold out in mere minutes, it begs the question – why were they in such absolutely high demand? Several key factors contributed to the lightning fast sellouts:
- Scarcity – With only 4-5 Manchester dates, supply was very limited.
- Hometown Shows – Their sole UK concerts created a frenzy.
- Massive Fanbase – Coldplay has millions of loyal global followers.
- Hit Album – Music of the Spheres propelled enthusiasm.
- Epic Production – The sustainability focus intrigued attendees.
- Stadium Venue – Large capacity drove intense demand.
- Rock History – Coldplay’s decades of UK popularity cemented their status.
When combining all these ingredients – a wildly popular band, restricted tour schedule, creative new album, plus their legendary status in Manchester – a rapid sellout was guaranteed. Coldplay’s local fans recognized these concerts represented a special “can’t miss” moment in the band’s storied career.
How Quickly Did Previous Coldplay Concerts in Manchester Sell Out?
Coldplay is no stranger to instant sellouts in Manchester. Here’s a look back at how quickly their previous hometown shows have sold out in the past:
2005 – Twisted Logic Tour
Coldplay performed three shows at Manchester’s MEN Arena in July 2005 on their Twisted Logic Tour. Coming off the success of their album X&Y, all concerts sold out immediately within hours.
2012 – Mylo Xyloto Tour
The band returned to play Manchester’s MEN Arena in November 2012 in support of Mylo Xyloto. The arena added a second date due to intense demand. Both shows again sold out within a few hours after the on-sale.
2016 – A Head Full of Dreams Tour
Coldplay headed to the larger Manchester Stadium (now the Etihad) in June 2016 as part of their A Head Full of Dreams Tour. The one-off stadium show sold a staggering 50,000 tickets in under 30 minutes.
Judging by their continued lightning fast sellouts in Manchester over the years, the instant 5-show stampede for Coldplay’s 2022 tour stop came as no surprise. In their hometown, demand for the band has always drastically dwarfed supply. These upcoming concerts seem primed to deliver more Manchester magic for Coldplay and their local followers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Coldplay is definitively sold out across their 5 scheduled Manchester concerts in 2022. Given their special relationship with the city and limited UK tour plans, frenzied demand swiftly gobbled up the 250,000 seats. Some last minute tickets may materialize closer to show dates, but expect to pay premium prices. Coldplay’s Manchester crowds will be packed full of passionate local supporters, many of whom have followed the band’s illustrious career from the very start. For the lucky ticket-holding fans, these concerts will surely create memories to last a lifetime.