Coldplay in Hong Kong: fans revel in 2½-hour show, but some left wanting fireworks

Police arrest five over ticket scalping outside Kai Tak Stadium, while some fans hoped to see fireworks that are often set off at band’s shows

Reading Time:9 minutes

Coldplay gets up close to the audience at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 6:40pm, 8 Apr 2025Updated: 4:31pm, 9 Apr 2025

This rolling story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial.

British band Coldplay kicked off its concert series at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park on Tuesday, while police arrested five people over ticket scalping outside the venue.

Residents, mainland Chinese visitors and fans from overseas headed to the park’s main stadium earlier in the evening to get their hands on merchandise and soak up the atmosphere ahead of the first full show by an international act at the venue.

Many posed for photos in front of the stadium, while some fans distributed merchandise such as temporary tattoos, keychains and postcards.

The stadium is the centrepiece of the city’s new HK$30 billion (US$3.85 billion) sports park which was officially opened last month.

Last September, Coldplay announced it would be heading to the city for three shows in its “Music of the Spheres” world tour, with tickets sold out within minutes. It added a fourth concert in November.

Complaints from fans surfaced last month as they were forced to queue for a long time to exchange misprinted tickets issued by Cityline. The incident prompted the city’s tourism chief to demand the company offer an apology and an explanation.