KUALA LUMPUR – A 22-year-old Coldplay fan flew here from Kuching, Sarawak just to catch the band’s inaugural concert in Malaysia.
Nadia Farzana, who has been a fan for 11 years, does not mind the laundry list of rules and regulations put up by the organisers.
“I’ve been a fan since 2012, so it feels really surreal that I’m here at their concert for the first time. It feels like I’m living one of my childhood dreams,” she told Scoop.
She also said it is better to avoid stirring up controversy prior to the show so everyone can enjoy the concert, especially if it is their first time watching Coldplay live.
A pair of close friends named Syarmine Afiqah, 28, and Ainin Sofea, 25, have been Coldplay fans for a decade now, and were both restlessly waiting for gates to open since 2pm.
The duo, who came from Puchong, said it took them about two hours to book tickets online using their phones and laptops concurrently.
Another fan, who is attending her fourth Coldplay concert, is Alisya Affandi, 27, who said she had been waiting outside the stadium since 6am.
She said the last three concerts she attended were in Paris, France – Jakarta, Indonesia and Cardiff, United Kingdom.
She added that she does not completely agree with the organisers prohibiting controversial banners, as she believes that everyone should be allowed to express themselves.
“I’ve queued for tickets online together with my friends on our phones, laptops and computers,” she said, adding that she managed to get a ticket instantly.
A fan lining up for Standing Zone tickets, 29-year-old digital marketer Azelia, has been a Coldplay fan for 10 years, said she was okay with rules prohibiting water bottles and umbrellas.
“We already have a lot of drinks (sold in stalls at the venue). I think a lot of normal concerts don’t allow drinks (to be in the Standing Zone).”
She said she feels lucky to get a ticket in the Standing Zone, as many of her friends could not get one.
She added that she waited for about one to two hours to get tickets from the official GoLive website.
Coldplay is scheduled to take the stage at 8.45pm after a 20-minute opening show by Malaysian rapper Bunga Isme. – November 22, 2023