Coldplay concerts in Helsinki affect attendance at Kuopiorock festival in North Savonia

Coldplay’s major concerts in Helsinki significantly impacted ticket sales for the Kuopiorock festival in North Savonia, according to the event organizers. Over the weekend, approximately 25,000 visitors attended the three-day Kuopiorock festival, which is 5,000 fewer than last year.

Festival director Allu Koskinen noted that tough competition was anticipated: “Many who were with us on Thursday left for Helsinki on Friday because of Coldplay.” The attendance record for Kuopiorock was set five years ago, when the event was sold out with 32,000 attendees. Koskinen remarked that a sell-out this year was plausible but the competing mega concerts made it impossible.

Coldplay is expected to draw a total of 170,000 attendees for their four stadium shows at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium. Koskinen highlighted the impact of such large events on simultaneous happenings: “It’s several percentage points of Finland’s population. It definitely affects all events taking place at the same time.”

Despite the strong competition, Kuopiorock reached its visitor goals. This year’s festival marked its 21st anniversary, featuring headliners like the English band The Prodigy and the American band Gene Simmons Band. The lineup focused on seasoned artists, a choice made intentionally, according to Koskinen: “We don’t want to be Tuska festival, but we also don’t want to be solely a Schlager festival. This year’s artist selections were made with a specific audience in mind, and I believe it was successful.”

Next year, Kuopiorock will take place on the last weekend of July. Koskinen hinted at special plans, as the city of Kuopio will celebrate its 250th anniversary. “This will also be reflected in our festival,” he stated.