In a shocking announcement from New South Wales, parents have been told they must spend hundreds of dollars on a concert ticket for their eight-month-old baby, even though the infant does not need a seat of her own.
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The story begins with Alyssa, a mother living in Albion Park, and her fiancé Rhett. Their daughter, Aluna, loves music and dancing. The family has taken her to a wedding and even to see a band, so they thought bringing her along to a Coldplay concert at Accor Stadium in Sydney would be no issue. Alyssa’s father bought the Coldplay tickets as a Christmas gift for the whole family in memory of Alyssa’s late mother, Tash, who passed away unexpectedly in 2022.
Alyssa shared, “It has always been a lifelong dream for us all to see Coldplay.” The band’s music has been a part of their family life since childhood, making the experience of attending the concert together a cherished memory they have longed for.
The tickets were purchased around the time Alyssa became pregnant with Aluna, and she was excited about her daughter experiencing her first concert with the family. “For all of us to finally go to Coldplay together and have Coldplay be her first concert… what an awesome experience,” Alyssa expressed.
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However, when Alyssa called to check if she could bring a baby to the concert, she received a disappointing answer: every person entering the stadium, including a one-week-old baby, needed a ticket. “They said, ‘Every person entering the stadium, even a one-week-old baby, needs a ticket,'” Alyssa recounted.
She felt this was unreasonable. “I think it’s absolute madness… We can travel overseas without having to pay for a plane ticket for her, but they’re making us pay for a ticket for her to see Coldplay,” Alyssa remarked with frustration. Concert tickets are expensive, and with the event being sold out, each ticket costs several hundred dollars.
“For me, it’s absolutely ridiculous that they are trying to justify a baby paying $463 to attend a show,” Alyssa said. She noted that Aluna would be in a carrier on her chest, wearing headphones, and likely would just sleep throughout the concert.
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Alyssa emphasized that leaving baby Aluna at home was not an option either. “From where we live in Albion Park to Accor Stadium, it would take about a seven to eight-hour journey… I can’t leave her with someone else because she’s only ever been breastfed,” Alyssa explained. Aluna has never taken a bottle, and she is very dependent on her mother, making it impractical to have a babysitter look after her.
According to information from A Current Affair, the event organizers have a rule stating that no ticket means no entry — a policy that applies to everyone, including infants. However, mothers will not be turned away from Accor Stadium as there is a discretionary “under three years old can sit on the lap” policy.
This situation has sparked mixed reactions within the community. Many other parents have expressed dissatisfaction with this policy, arguing that requiring a ticket for an infant is unreasonable and lacks understanding. They contend that charging for a ticket for a baby, who does not require a separate seat, is an unnecessary financial burden, especially during challenging economic times.
This also highlights a harsh reality: cultural and artistic experiences, which should be opportunities for families to bond, are becoming overly commercialized. Clearly, the costs associated with attending a concert have become a significant challenge for many families, particularly when faced with rigid and unreasonable regulations.
Despite this, Alyssa and her family are not giving up on their dream of enjoying Coldplay’s music together. They are considering various solutions to bring Aluna to the concert, from looking for cheaper tickets to accepting the reality that they may have to pay a substantial amount to create this memorable moment.
Alyssa and Aluna’s story is not only a prime example of the challenges parents face when wanting to introduce their children to the world of music but also a reminder of the value of family, connection, and the memories that music brings. In an increasingly commercialized world, preserving precious moments with family remains the most valuable treasure.
