There has been much speculation recently over whether the hugely popular British rock band Coldplay will embark on a tour of the United States in the near future. As one of the most commercially successful groups of the 21st century, with over 100 million album sales worldwide, any potential Coldplay tour is sure to generate tremendous excitement among their massive global fanbase.
Coldplay’s Touring History
Coldplay has regularly toured North America ever since achieving mainstream success with their acclaimed 2000 debut album Parachutes. They have headlined massive stadiums and arenas across the US and Canada over the past two decades, including sold-out shows at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Some of Coldplay’s most notable North American tours include:
- A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour (2002-2003) – After their sophomore album catapulted them to stardom, Coldplay played arenas and amphitheaters throughout the US and Canada, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
- Twisted Logic Tour (2005-2007) – On the back of their Grammy-winning third record X&Y, the band embarked on an extensive two-year trek across North America, upgrading to stadiums like the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
- Mylo Xyloto Tour (2011-2012) – Following the release of their concept album Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay returned stateside for a run of huge stadium shows, breaking attendance records at venues like BC Place in Vancouver.
- A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016-2017) – Their seventh album A Head Full of Dreams prompted their biggest North American tour to date, with multiple nights at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles and Soldier Field in Chicago.
Based on this track record of consistent, large-scale touring over the past 20 years, North American fans can usually expect a Coldplay tour every few album cycles. Their most recent release was 2019’s Everyday Life, so many observers anticipate that a US tour could follow in the next couple of years.
Recent Hints About a Possible US Tour
There are a few signs indicating that Coldplay may indeed mount a major North American stadium and arena tour in 2023 or 2024.
In several interviews this year, frontman Chris Martin has made vague allusions to Coldplay hitting the road again soon. When asked about touring plans during a November 2021 radio appearance, Martin replied “next year we’re gonna be doing stuff all over the place.” He also stated that the band loves playing live and wants to get “back out there” after the pandemic disrupted touring in 2020 and much of 2021.
There have also been rumors of North American stadiums holding tentative dates for a potential Coldplay tour in 2023. Unconfirmed reports suggest the group could be eyeing huge venues like AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Camping World Stadium in Orlando, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. While speculative, these claims lend credibility to the idea that Coldplay’s management is actively planning a US visit.
The band’s activity in recent months also hints at ramping up preparations for a major trek. They premiered a new single, “Higher Power,” in May 2021 and have hinted at more new music on the way. A fresh album release would provide the ideal timing and motivation for an accompanying world tour. Coldplay also recently partnered with BMW to promote sustainable touring practices, another sign that they are gearing up for a new round of concerts.
What a Coldplay US Tour Might Look Like
If Coldplay does announce a US tour for 2023-2024, what can American fans expect based on what we know so far?
Stadiums Over Arenas
As one of the biggest rock acts in the world, Coldplay has the star power and catalogue of hits to fill the largest venues in North America. Their 2012 and 2017 tours hit major stadiums, allowing them to play for 30,000-50,000 fans per night rather than be confined to 15,000-20,000 seat arenas. Expect a 2023 tour to continue this stadium-headlining trend.
Multiple Nights in Big Cities
Coldplay has such an enormous following across the US that they will likely play consecutive nights in major markets on a potential tour. Their 2022 European tour included 4 shows at London’s Wembley Stadium and 2023 could bring multi-date stops in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and other big cities.
Festival Headline Sets
In addition to their own tour, Coldplay would be prime candidates to headline major US summer festivals in 2023. They could be in line for top slots at the likes of Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo next year.
Expansive Production
A signature of Coldplay’s live show is the colorful, exuberant production value they bring to their gigs. Any North American tour would surely continue in this vein, possibly even enhanced from their previous outings. Laser lights, confetti, pyrotechnics and video displays could be incorporated to treat fans to an unforgettable audiovisual spectacle.
Career-Spanning Setlist
With 9 studio albums worth of material to pull from, expect a Coldplay US tour setlist to be packed with classics like “Yellow,” “Clocks” and “Viva La Vida” as well as plenty of new tracks. The shows would celebrate the band’s entire two-decade career, pleasing both longtime and newer followers.
When Will Tour Dates be Announced?
It is difficult to predict a precise timeline, but speculation points to a Coldplay US tour announcement likely happening sometime within the next 3-9 months.
Major global tour announcements sometimes coincide with a new album release, so if Coldplay does put out a new record in late 2022 or early 2023, dates could quickly follow.
Industry insiders suggest that behind-the-scenes planning is already underway for a US stadium tour in 2023. If this is true, fans could expect official tour dates between January and April 2023.
Keep a close eye on Coldplay’s social media and website towards the end of 2022 and into early 2023 for any tour announcements. Dates will sell out instantly when they are unveiled, so act fast to get tickets!
How Quickly Will Tickets Sell Out?
Incredibly quickly! As one of the most in-demand live acts in pop music, Coldplay tickets are prized items whenever they tour.
Their 2022 European tour saw massive demand across the continent, with most shows completely selling out within hours. German dates in Frankfurt, Berlin and Cologne all exhausted their 70,000+ capacities immediately.
A similar frenzy is expected for Coldplay’s long-awaited US comeback. The band’s popularity has not waned in North America, so a 2023 on-sale would attract millions of fans vying for tickets. Capacities will be large, given their stadium plans, but every concert will surely sell out straight away.
Major markets like New York, Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles could potentially sell out multiple dates within minutes. Savvy fans need to be ready the instant tickets go live, with pre-sale and VIP codes handy, to avoid getting shut out. StubHub and other resale sites will also flood with overpriced listings soon after the general on-sale.
In short, thanks to Coldplay’s phenomenal popularity, tickets will evaporate at lightning speed for their next US tour. Procrastinating or waiting for prices to drop will almost certainly lead to disappointment. Act decisively right away for the best shot at seats.
How Much Will Tickets Cost?
While prices may vary between markets, looking at recent Coldplay tours provides an idea of the ticket costs American fans can anticipate:
- Regular General Admission Floor or Lower Level Seats: $50-$250
- Reserved Mid-Level Seating: $90 – $200
- Higher Level/Upper Deck Seats: $50-$100
- Front Floor/Pit Tickets: $250-$500+
- VIP/Premium Seats: $500-$1,000+
Compared to other major rock bands touring stadiums, these ticket prices are reasonable given Coldplay’s elite status and production values. They are aware that fans come from diverse economic backgrounds and aim to make seeing them live relatively accessible.
Of course, many desirable floor seats near the stage will still demand premium prices, especially on the resale market after initial sell-outs. Paying more than face value will often be necessary to get into certain high-demand shows.
Overall though, Coldplay has cultivated an inclusive concert experience, so their 2023 US tour should offer a wide range of affordable options beyond the priciest tickets. Most fans will find solid seats within their budget. But it is advisable to buy early for the widest selection.
Will COVID Impact the Tour?
The pandemic derailed Coldplay’s previous hopes to tour in 2020 and early 2021. Could COVID-19 disrupt their plans again for a potential 2023-2024 North American tour?
Thankfully, large concerts have safely returned across much of the US as case numbers steadily decline. Coldplay themselves have smoothly toured Europe over the past year with certain COVID precautions in place.
While the pandemic is unpredictable, the current outlook suggests mass gatherings like a Coldplay tour would face minimal COVID-related obstacles by late 2022 and into 2023. Certain entry requirements (proof of vaccination, masks, etc) could be implemented per local regulations. But otherwise, nothing indicates a North American trek would face any major virus-related disruptions.
Of course, if conditions were to worsen, the band may delay announcing dates or adjust plans accordingly. But based on expert projections, Coldplay likely feels confident in mapping out their first proper US tour since 2017 without too much virus concern.
The demand is clearly there amongst fans after years of waiting. 2023 seems primed for Coldplay to return to stages across North America for one of the decade’s biggest concert events.
Conclusion
In summary, despite no official word yet from the band themselves, considerable evidence points towards Coldplay mounting a massive North American tour sometime in 2023-2024. Their longtime affinity for playing stateside and hints about hitting the road again after two quiet years suggest the rumors carry real weight. When dates are finally confirmed, expect immediate sell-outs as millions of US fans scramble to see one of the 21st century’s premiere live acts back in action. It will undoubtedly be one of the hottest concert tickets over the next couple years.