Stunning view Coldplay Navi Mumbai stadium concert

My Experience Attending Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres Concert in Mumbai

Date: January 18, 2025

As a fan of Coldplay since A Rush of Blood to the Head, seeing them live has been a bucket-list item for well over 15 years. Heck, back in 2011 I even went to see a tribute band play in UB City. X&Y (my favourite Coldplay album) had the stadium anthem “Fix You” and Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends had its stadium anthem with “Viva La Vida”. But we’re now in the era where a “Sky Full of Stars” going viral on social media alone has marketed Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres concert series better than ever before, and introduced the 25-year-old British band to a new stadium anthem.

The album Music of the Spheres was released 2 years ago — Coldplay’s first album produced by my all-time favourite music producer — Max Martin. But the popularity of the concert has made Coldplay continue to tour for so long that it is now, officially, the most attended tour of all time and the second highest grossing tour of all time (first is Taylor Swift’s Eras tour)!

I won’t go into the ticketing headache that was the BookMyShow experience, so I will just talk about the Coldplay experience.

I wanted to get inside the venue early so as to avoid last minute rushes.

Tandoor roti paneer thali Navi Mumbai
I had a hearty lunch before leaving for DY Patil Stadium

From my hotel, I then walked to Turbhe railway station.

Turbhe railway station Navi Mumbai
It was 1.5 kms from Hotel New Elite Inn, where I was staying

A ticket to Nerul station was Rs. 5 ($0.05/€0.05) and the train would arrive in 15 minutes.

Inside Navi Mumbai train
I’m constantly astounded at how cheap local trains are in Mumbai
Outside Nerul East exit station Mumbai
I took the Nerul East exit
Nerul East exit Navi Mumbai
I just pulled up Google Maps and followed the path to DY Patil University
Wall mural Navi Mumbai
My ticket’s entry was Gate 8, so I walked in the direction towards the Architecture College at DY Patil University
Navi Mumbai shops street
Navi Mumbai felt breathable compared to super congested Mumbai
Girls Navi Mumbai Coldplay concert
I could tell I was on the right path once I noticed girls dressed to the tee on my way
Direction boards Coldplay gates Navi Mumbai
There were direction boards plastered all along the route
Navi Mumbai apartments above shops
Navi Mumbai translates to ‘New Mumbai’ and is a better planned city to the messy ‘old’ Mumbai
DY Patil architecture college entrance Gate 8
I was near

I could see scalpers desperate to sell off their tickets outside and I was happy to see them struggle! 🙂 Clearly their attempts to sell tickets at 3~4 times for so long failed, and were now trying get the tickets off their hands.

Gate 8 entrance Coldplay concert Navi Mumbai
My section was Block M, so we had to go through the College of Architecture

DY Patil is a private university offering various bachelors and masters programs.

DY Patil open ground Navi Mumbai
To say the facilities and the campus is awesome would be an understatement!

And yes, even the massive 45,300-seat stadium is part of the campus.

Coldplay LED wristband Moon Goggles Mumbai concert
I went in and collected my LED wrist band and Moon Goggles

What are the Moon Googles for? You will see later.

DY Patil stadium Block M entrance Navi Mumbai
These are the entry point for L1, L2, and L3 at Block M (L = Levels)

Toilets were not too far off from the entry points and there were water stations too. I had carried a tiny juice bottle which I refilled. Otherwise you had to buy a ₹100 cup which you can refill with water as much as you want.

L1 section Block M view DY Patil stadium
This is the view from the L1 Section (₹4500). I wouldn’t book a seat in the back row here — your photos WILL be obstructed by the L2 balcony above
View from L2 section M block DY Patil stadium
This is the section from L2 balcony. Now I know why they charged ₹12500 for this section.
View from L3 section M block DY Patil stadium
And this is the view from L3 section (₹3500), up front
DY Patil stadium L3 block M last rows
My seat was L36, all the way up on top
DY Patil stadium P sections Navi Mumbai
Next to mine were sections N, O, and P. Section P were priced lower, so maybe the view isn’t as good?
Lounge section DY Patil stadium Navi Mumbai
That’s the Lounge section, priced at ₹35,000 — watch this Instagram Reel to see what it was like after spending that much!
Courtyard Marriott DY Patil stadium view
The guests at Courtyard Marriott get a free view of the concert too… just not the stage

The view from my seat wasn’t too bad.

Coldplay stage view from Block M DY Patil stadium
Sure, I couldn’t see the performer on the stage much… especially via my phone’s camera, which lacked zoom

But as you will see in the video at the end of this blog, you will see I was still immensely pleased with the view!

Bisleri water booths Coldplay concert
The one benefit I had with my seat was that I only had to bend backwards to fill my bottle with free water

I would manage my water intake so as not feel the urge to go to the bathroom and miss out on the songs I wanted to hear. I’m not a fan of “All My Love” from Moon Music, so I told myself that would be my bathroom break song.

This was setlist Coldplay used for all their India shows.

Activity zone Coldplay concert DY Patil stadium
I decided to go back down and check out the activity zone for this area
Coldplay concert merchandise booth Mumbai
The official Coldplay merchandise booth
Coldplay t-shirts Mumbai concert
Prices for T-shirts started at ₹1500
Dominos Pizza Burger King booths Coldplay concert
Dominos Pizza and Burger King were the main food booths. Prices were much higher than what the same items cost in a restaurant. ₹450 ($5.20) for a 7″ pizza?!
Jameson booth Coldplay concert
Jameson Irish whiskey was the official liquor vendor

I actually looked around to see if any guy would come to this Coldplay concert wearing a black t-shirt of a famous rock band… because I kinda knew there would be at least a few casuals who would do such a thing.

Iron Maiden tshirt at Coldplay Mumbai concert
And voila! Guy wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt… to a Coldplay concert 🤭

I went back to my seat. It was honestly tiring to climb the flight of stairs to get to L3 section — so be mindful of that when you get a seat up here.

Shone opening act Coldplay concert
At 5pm, the first of three opening acts took to the stage — Shone is a Zimbabwean artist

He was alright, but the next singer was even better.

Elyanna Coldplay Navi Mumbai
Elyanna is a Palestinian-Chilean singer, who sounded AMAZING

Elyanna sang mostly in Arabic and put on a good show with her dancers. She was also featured in Coldplay’s “We Pray” single.

Jasleen Royal Coldplay concert Jan 18
The third and final opening act for the show was Jasleen Royal… who was NOT amazing
Jasleen Royal phone lights Coldplay concert
Initially I thought “maybe she’s sick” — but no, Jasleen sang the same across every India show

How Jasleen Royal became a popular Indian singer is beyond me. She was a mediocre singer at best! What’s even embarrassing was India’s best playback singer at the moment, Shreya Ghoshal, was in the audience as a concert attendee!

Coldplay concert about to start Mumbai
Anyway, time for the main show to begin!

After the concert ends, we’re supposed to return our LED wristbands as they are re-used all throughout the world tour.

Coldplay LED wristband return rate Mumbai
Tokyo currently leads with a 97% return rate (not surprised). Abu Dhabi’s return rate was 79%. I had a feeling India’s return rate would be bad.

By 7:50pm or so, the lights dimmed and the stadium roared as Coldplay’s members walked towards the stage. When our LED lights started to light up to match the programmed sounds… it was an amazing sight to behold!

Stunning view Coldplay Navi Mumbai stadium concert
The view from my seat was spectacular!
Coldplay Mumbai concert LED lights Block M L3
I mean, seeing nearly 60,000 lights dance to the music was a visual spectacle to behold!

As a fan of Coldplay since 20 years, I can enjoy their concert even without the LED lights… but to say the LED wristbands don’t amplify the experience would be such a pretentious lie!

Chris Martin talking Mumbai concert
The LED wristbands would switch off during songs like “The Scientist” and whenever Chris Martin spoke to the audience

Watch the video below, as it is 43 minutes long in 1080p and turn on the captions to get my thoughts throughout all the songs from the show.

Coldplay Sky Full of Stars Mumbai concert
The whole stadium erupted for “A Sky Full of stars” — a song that has now become Coldplay’s most popular, thanks to social media

While it’s true there were many attendees who were simply there to brag about… well, being there… and to shoot social media content, I would say 50% of the audience knew 70% of the setlist very well.

Coldplay concert DY Patil stadium
I could hear enough singing from the real fans echo all the way up my ears — so contrary to some reports, the audience was NOT dead!

Again, watch my video below if you don’t believe me.

Coldplay third stage closer Mumbai
The band came closer to my side for “Sparks,” the band member introductions, and Chris’ impromptu songs segment

Was I disappointed with anything? Sure, I would have loved to hear “Magic” or “Daddy” instead of “Everglow” during the part Chris invites a fan on stage. Instead of “Sparks” I would have liked “Trouble” or “Don’t Panic” from Parachutes instead. Then again, Coldplay have sooooo many good songs from every album that if they included the songs I would personally like to hear, the show would run 4 hours long!

Towards the end of the concert, we were told to put on the Moon Goggles for “Good Feelings” (from Moon Music).

End of concert Coldplay Mumbai
The show ended around 10pm and I absolutely loved it!

What I didn’t love was pretty much everything that happened after the concert ended.

Crowds leaving Navi Mumbai concert
It was a slow flow of people trying to fit through narrow exit gaps

We were told by concert staff — including Coldplay’s own staff from the UK — that we would have to return our LED wristbands, and I did so willingly. Stupid thing was, there were so many trying to keep it as memorabilia! What for I don’t know! Most people wouldn’t know how to trigger the lights because the wristband has no buttons or even Coldplay branding. I just know India would have the worst return rate in the world! What’s even worse is that, after a few years, these LED wristbands will be thrown out by those who kept it after finally realizing they can’t do anything with it. Sigh…

DY Patil stadium after Coldplay concert
As I walked out of the stadium, I still couldn’t believe this massive stadium was part of a university’s campus!
DY Patil campus building
The private college facilities are very impressive!
Navi Mumbai outside DY Patil after concert
Once outside, eateries and restaurants were jam packed!

I managed to find a table inside a bar which also had a good enough menu for dinner. I finished eating before it got even more crowded. I decided to eat first because I only had two restaurant options near my hotel and I still had to figure out how to get back this late at night.

So many were struggling to book Uber and Ola taxis, and prices were three times than usual. Auto rickshaws were no better!

Jeep dealership Navi Mumbai traffic
I walked towards Juinagar train station

Once I got to Juinagar station, the lines were so long for the ticket vending machines that I gave up after 5 minutes and resumed walking. Along the route towards IKEA Navi Mumbai, I stopped auto rickshaws passing by and tried negotiating prices. Finally, as I was talking to one driver, a group of Keralites nearby overheard me and asked me which way I was going. As my luck would have it, they were staying in the same hotel I was. Eventually the auto driver agree to ₹500 for the four of us. Way too much for just 2 kms but what to do, we all got to get back to our rooms safely and quickly. I imagine many struggled that night to find a ride back to the Mumbai side. Makes me glad I took the right decision to book a hotel not far from the venue just for tonight. (I will blog about all that later).

Overall, I was super happy with the concert. I can’t speak for everyone as there were some who faced issues — but I had a blast! It was organized well, I enjoyed the view, the music, and felt it was worth spending to come all the way here to witness it all. Truly a once in a lifetime joy!

Will I go see Coldplay even without the LED light show? Yes, of course I would! I’ve been dreaming about seeing the band live since the X & Y and Viva La Vida days. I can’t wait to see Coldplay again… just, hopefully in Bangalore next time.

Enjoy the concert video and enable captions to read the captions I added:

Chinatown Bangkok at night Thailand

Thailand: Yaowarat Road – Bangkok’s Chinatown During Chinese New Year

Date: January 20, 2023

After checking out Ong Ang Canal and Mega Plaza, I walked up Yaowarat Road to the section that is widely showcased as Bangkok’s Chinatown. This being mid-January, Yaowarat Road was decorated to usher in the Chinese New Year vibes.

Yaowarat road historic buildings
Bangkok’s Chinatown area is in the Samphanthawong district

Chinese have been migrating to Thailand for over 200 years. Initially for trade/business, then later waves of refugees fleeing the civil war era of the 1900s, and then the Mao era post 1950s. Mostly from southern China, first by way of border nations like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia — and then making their way to more prosperous Bangkok.

Chinese store Yaowarat Bangkok
Many businesses traditional Chinese goods

Even to this day, Chinese are trying to migrate to Thailand using various means. Mainland Chinese are the largest group of foreign buyers of real estate in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Many come to study in the international schools, and use education visa as a foot through the door to stay long-term.

Chinatown Bangkok at night Thailand
I was getting near
Chinatown Panasonic Mazda Bangkok
The crowds were already thronging road-side stalls
Cheongsam Yaowarat road Bangkok
Cheongsams were available for purchase if you wanted to get the ‘Chinese’ look
Chinatown Bangkok red lanterns Thailand
I checked out some bylanes
Continue reading “Thailand: Yaowarat Road – Bangkok’s Chinatown During Chinese New Year” »
Mega Plaza toy mall Bangkok

Thailand: Toy malls of Bangkok – Mega Plaza and Always One Plaza; Ong Ang Canal at sunset

Date: January 20, 2023

After walking through Khaosan Road for the first time, I booked a Grab bike taxi and decided to head towards Yaowarat Road, the main street in what is dubbed Bangkok’s Chinatown.

Road to democracy monument Bangkok
The bike passed around Democracy Monument
Sao Chingcha Giant Swing Bangkok
We then passed by Wat Suthat Thepwararam compound and Sao Chingcha a.k.a Giant Swing
Sao Chingcha Giant Swing Thailand
Giant Swing is one of Bangkok’s icons
Towards Yaowarat road Bangkok
As I reached Yaowarat road, I got down near a canal
Sharp Mitsubishi Electric Bangkok
I honestly wasn’t sure where exactly I was dropped off

I walked over to Ong Ang Canal (Khlong Ong Ang in Thai), which it turns out, got a makeover during COVID19 and has now become a tourist attraction.

Continue reading “Thailand: Toy malls of Bangkok – Mega Plaza and Always One Plaza; Ong Ang Canal at sunset” »
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