The recent Bad Bunny concerts on January 25, 26, and 27 had a huge and unforgettable impact on Medellín, changing how people experienced the city and how it functioned during those days. For many students and families, the event was unlike anything they had ever seen before. People noticed both positive and negative effects, including increased safety measures and economic growth, but also overcrowding and soaring prices, with some costs ranging from 500,000 pesos to as high as 20 million pesos.

For many people in the city, one of the biggest changes was transportation. Bradford pointed out a positive shift, saying, “It was cool that the train stayed open later so that people who probably had a really good time and partied could get home more safely.” His comment shows that the city made efforts to help people return home safely after the event, especially late at night.

On the other hand, the large number of visitors, nearly 100,000 people, also caused major congestion throughout the city. María del Mar explained, “I feel that Medellín was very collapsed. All the streets, all the commercial centers, all the malls were full of people.” She was not the only one who noticed this. María Escandon shared a similar experience, saying, “It was just an immense amount of people. It was insane. Getting there, there was both car traffic and people traffic.” These comments highlight how crowded the city became and how difficult it was for residents and visitors to move around during the concert weekend.

Despite the crowds, many people noticed positive economic effects. Bradford said, “It brings in more economy because people come and travel for the concert from other parts of the country, occasionally other countries.” This suggests that tourism played an important role during the event. María Escandon agreed, stating, “Definitely positive because that helps a lot with the economy, and businesses sell a lot more.” Together, these quotes show that the concert helped many local businesses earn more money.

For some people, the concert also created a strong sense of connection. María del Mar shared, “It’s really nice to see that I’m not the only one and that there are more people who share that same interest.” Her words show how the concert made fans feel happy and excited to be around others who shared similar tastes in music.

In addition, the event seemed to improve the city’s image. María del Mar said, “I feel that it positions Medellín and Colombia in a very high place,” and mentioned that the artist even said it was one of his favorite cities. María Escandon added, “A lot of people flew into Medellín for the concert, and many people here were going to the concert, so the whole city was basically revolving around Bad Bunny.” These comments suggest that the concert brought international attention to Medellín and helped it stand out.

Not everything was positive, though. Bradford criticized high prices, saying, “I would say the rates were not fair. They’re gouging for sure.” His statement reflects concerns that some businesses may have taken advantage of visitors. For some people, this took away from the excitement of the event.

Overall, the interviews show that the Bad Bunny concert had a strong influence on Medellín. It increased safety, boosted the economy, and brought people together, but it also caused traffic, overcrowding, and concerns about pricing. As a student journalist, listening to these different voices helped me understand that big events are never just good or bad. They create opportunities, but they also bring challenges. Hearing real experiences helped me tell a more honest and balanced story about what really happened in the city.