Concerts and festivals are a growth industry in Meghalaya, with the number of these held growing in number and standing. Last year, the state made headlines with a concert featuring Bryan Adams. This year, Meghalaya is gearing up for the highly anticipated Ed Sheeran concert, scheduled to take place on February 12 at Shillong’s JN Stadium.
The concert is being organised by BookMyShow, which hopes to replicate the success of the Coldplay event they recently hosted in Mumbai and other states. A team from BookMyShow will arrive in the city on February 6 to oversee the preparations.
Today, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh and officials from the Tourism Department, police, and BookMyShow, held a meeting to discuss the event arrangements.
“We want to ensure that the arrangements are top-notch and seamless while minimising inconvenience for both concertgoers and non-concertgoers,” said the minister.
Discussions covered logistical aspects, including traffic movement, venue entry and exit, and overall crowd management. The state expects a turnout of approximately 27,000 people. “We have received a strong response from visitors outside Meghalaya, with over 60 percent of attendees expected to come from beyond the state’s borders. A sizable crowd will be from Assam, along with attendees from other metropolitan areas across the country,” Lyngdoh noted.
Another review meeting, involving the Deputy Commissioners of East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi, will be held on February 6, as a significant number of attendees will be passing through Ri-Bhoi.
Addressing concerns about potential damage to the football turf, a lingering issue from the Bryan Adams concert, Lyngdoh reassured that state-of-the-art turf protection technology has been acquired by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs. “The government of Meghalaya has invested in the latest turf protector, which is currently being used for the Coldplay concert in Mumbai. It will be transported back to Shillong in the coming days,” he confirmed.
Lyngdoh also highlighted Meghalaya’s role as a trendsetter in hosting international concerts, stating that the state has been a pioneer in this space since 2004. “The fact that none other than the Prime Minister of India has acknowledged and tweeted about the emerging concert economy speaks volumes. We have led the way in this field, having started much earlier than several other states,” he added.
