Coldplay Ahmedabad tickets sell out in minutes, listed again in black

Several Coldplay fans trying to book tickets for the bandrsquos upcoming gig in Ahmedabad on Saturday were let down yet again despite BookMyShow the official ticketing agency implementing an automated queue randomisation system this time to create a virtual queue for customers Booking was opened at 12 pm and tickets were sold out in 44 minutes flat The reporter logged into BookMyShow at 1145 am via a phone and laptop but couldnrsquot score a single ticket as 406945 people were ahead of herScreenshots of the BookMyShow app during middayrsquos failed bid to book tickets for the bandrsquos Ahmedabad gigAccording to BookMyShowrsquos app the British brand announced the Navi Mumbai and Ahmedabad legs of its Music of the Spheres world tour in September and November respectively While the Grammywinning band will perform at the DY Patil Stadium on January 18 and 19 next year the Gujarat gig is scheduled for January 25 and 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium In September fans faced difficulties booking tickets for the Navi Mumbai gig expressing their disappointment on social media platforms Following the backlash BookMyShow introduced automated queue randomisation for the Ahmedabad tourWhen booking for the first slot the January 25 show was opened at noon on Saturday this reporter saw around 5 lakh people waiting to book tickets in the virtual waiting room When the tickets were sold out at 1244 pm around 4 lakh people were in the virtual waiting room according to the app The website faced no technical glitches Booking started for the second slot the January 26 show was opened at 1 pm and this reporter was alerted that 4 lakh fans were in the virtual waiting room When these tickets were also sold out 44 minutes later there were around 3 lakh people waiting room lsquooccupantsrsquo In the meantime concert tickets were available on ticket sellingreselling platform Viagogo at six times the official priceFan SpeakA Coldplay fan requesting anonymity said ldquoI had logged into BookMyShow at 1130 am At 1230 I logged into Viagogo and saw that tickets were available at exorbitant rates Luckily I eventually managed to book the tickets via BookMyShowrdquoFrom left Coldplay members Guy Berryman Will Champion Jonny Buckland and Chris Martin PicXcoldplayldquoI logged in at 11 am and was added to the waiting room an hour later Some 50000 people were ahead of me and I could select the tickets in four minutes Last time there was no virtual waiting room On Saturday there were no technical glitches I am surprised to see that I got the tickets I am overjoyed Itrsquos a miracle My friend had logged in at 1158 am and still had managed to get the tickets in the first slotrdquo a Coldplay fan said on condition of anonymityRudra Thaker said he got a ticket for the second show at 1 pm ldquoI logged in at 1130 pm and there was a virtual queue Some 4 lakh people were ahead of me However later I was able to book a ticket in the second slotrdquo he said Antara Bhide who tried in vain to book tickets for the DY Patil show in September said was disappointed that she could succeed this time ldquoJust like the last time I couldnrsquot manage to book a ticket However I feel the system has improved since September I did not try my luck on Viagogordquo she saidKasifa Hussain another unsuccessful fan said she would not opt for Viagogo as it was a ldquoblack marketing apprdquo ldquoI couldnrsquot book a ticket via BookMyShow but I found Viagogo where tickets were being sold at skyhigh prices to be dodgyrdquo she saidNew systemAccording to BookMyShow the automated queue randomisation system was introduced this time and awareness was created about it on social media ldquoThis system is followed worldwide In it users are added to a virtual queue and random people are selected to book a ticket The userrsquos login time doesnrsquot matter the queue system is completely randomrdquo a BookMyShow official saidPolice investigationThe Economic Offences Wing EOW of the Mumbai police is investigating allegations of black marketing in connection with ticket sales for the Navi Mumbai concert Advocate Amit Vyas filed a complaint with the EOW in September alleging that BookMyShow and the organiser Live Nation Entertainment used ticket slots to manipulate the ticketing process Vyas also alleged that 23 individuals and entities conspired to black market the ticketsVyas a Coldplay fan said that he was disappointed that BookMyShow was the official ticket booking agency and has already filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court ldquoTickets were available on Viagogo the last time Based on that I had filed a petition and it is pending in the high courtrdquo he saidA BookMyShow source told midday that the company was aware that an FIR had been registered and they were cooperating with the authorities ldquoIn addition to filing an FIR over the black marketing and scalping of tickets for recent highdemand live entertainment experiences BookMyShow has also provided all the requisite information and details to law enforcement agencies and will continue to proactively fight against scalping and black marketing of ticketsmdashpractices that are condemned and punishable by law in Indiardquo the source said adding that the booking agency denied any link with Viagogo Vyas told midday that he had suggested measures to curb the interference of bots in the ticket booking process