Shillong: Meghalaya is set to host global music icon Ed Sheeran, with his much-anticipated concert scheduled for February 12 at Shillong’s JN Stadium. Last year, the state made headlines with the Bryan Adams concert.
Organised by BookMyShow, the upcmoning event aims to replicate the success of the Coldplay’s performances in Mumbai and other states.
A team from BookMyShow will arrive in Shillong on February 6 to oversee final preparations for the concert.
On Friday, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh held a review meeting with officials from the tourism department, police, and BookMyShow representatives to discuss logistical arrangements.
“We want to ensure that the arrangements are top-notch and seamless while minimizing inconvenience for both concertgoers and non-concertgoers,” the minister said.
Key discussions revolved around traffic movement, venue entry and exit, and overall crowd management. The event is expected to attract approximately 27,000 attendees, with over 60% of ticket holders coming from outside Meghalaya. A significant number of fans are expected from Assam and other metropolitan cities across India.
To streamline coordination, another review meeting will be held on February 6, involving Deputy Commissioners of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District, as a large number of attendees will be passing through Ri Bhoi.
Addressing concerns over potential damage to the football turf at JN Stadium—a concern raised after the Bryan Adams concert—Lyngdoh assured that the Department of Sports has acquired advanced turf protection technology.
“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.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s role as a frontrunner in hosting international concerts, Lyngdoh emphasized the state’s long-standing commitment to promoting the ‘concert economy.’
“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,” Lyngdoh added.
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