Revealed in a blog post by a roadie on the band’s website, the band apparently send staff to find excitable audience members to place in the front row, as opposed to selling the tickets.

 

The roadie was speaking about correspondence with some fans, and wrote: “After a bit of email back and forth, it turns out that they were in the front row after being 'upgraded' from seats way up the back. The band have done this for ages now.

 

“It came about after struggling with shows where the seats closest to the stage were often full of just 'the highest bidders' and not necessarily the most enthusiastic fans.

 

“In European standing shows, the front rows are the kids who've been outside the venue since daybreak and who've sprinted in to get the pole position. Usually by the time the opening acts have finished they're at fever pitch with excitement.

 

“In contrast, folks who'd paid astronomical sums for the tickets could often just sit with an arms folded sense of entitlement, emoting 'Come on then, entertain me, have you any idea how much I paid for this?'

 

“So the band don't sell the tickets to the front few rows anymore. Instead, various crew members are sent out to scan the highest, furthest seats to find folks who look genuinely excited and giddy to be seeing the band. They're then given tickets to the front row.

 

“For them, it's a Willy Wonka golden ticket. For the band, it's guaranteed energy from the folks closest to them. It genuinely does make the shows better. We've all said it many times. How good a show is, is largely to do with how good the audience are. It's what fuels the whole thing.”

 

Chris Martin also recently compared the band to Manchester United, saying they have a lot in common with the football team.