Thieves Stallout U2 in SA

JOHANNESBURG — Officials blame thieves for power problems at South Africa’s main World Cup stadium, but the stadium manager promised Friday the lights will be on in time for a U2 concert.

The theft of power cables in the area around Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium led to fluctuations in supplies that can damage generators and other equipment, stadium manager Jacques Grobbelaar said Friday. City Power spokesman Sol Masolo said his utility had asked police to investigate a case of cable theft in the matter.

Cable theft, widespread in South Africa and elsewhere, is likely to increase with recent global copper price rises.

A national soccer league game scheduled for Saturday at the stadium had to be canceled to allow for repairs before the U2 concert, Grobbelaar said.

Grobbelaar said U2 is expected to draw 98,000 fans, making the Feb. 13 concert a bigger event than the World Cup final, when the stadium hosted about 94,000 people.

U2's 'claw' arrives at Soccer City

The large, four-legged steel structure named the “claw” holds the sound system and video screen.

“The stage set features a 360-degree configuration… this unique design affords fans the opportunity to surround the entire stage as it has no definite front and back,” said Stadium Management SA chief executive Jacques Grobbelaar.

“Johannesburg is about to be gripped in “U2 fever” in anticipation of the build up to the concert, to be held on Sunday, February 13,” he said.

“The event is set to rock the city [and] preparations are well underway.”

A massive crowd was anticipated and management was preparing to host die-hard fans who would camp overnight in the surrounds of the stadium.

“For us this is extremely exciting to be hosting a global band of this stature and we have launched additional hospitality seat tickets in the Gold Club to accommodate all the U2 fans,” said Grobbelaar

Build it and they will come !

“There is no stadium big enough in Atlantic Canada so we will build one and they will come,” he said in a statement. “The impossible will become possible. Moncton will host the last North American U2 360 Tour date and it promises to be the biggest and greatest entertainment spectacle in Atlantic Canada history.”

Iconic rock band U2 has confirmed it will play an outdoor concert at Magnetic Hill in Moncton on July 30.

The Moncton concert is the last date on U2’s North American tour and is the first time the band has played in Atlantic Canada.

“The Moncton show is set to be the final date of the U2 360 Tour in North America and we’re really looking forward to bringing this now legendary 360 production into Atlantic Canada for the first time,” said Paul McGuinness, U2’s manager, in a statement.

The Moncton stop will have a special appearance with Montreal’s Arcade Fire. As well, the band Carney will open for U2.

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said the city is honoured to have U2 play at the outdoor concert venue, which has already hosted major bands, such as the Rolling Stones and AC/DC.

“To host one of the biggest bands, on one of the biggest stages, as part of one of the biggest tours for their final North American date is an honour,” LeBlanc said in a statement.

The concert stop in Moncton will also see some changes to the Magnetic Hill concert site.

Donald K Donald, the concert promoter, said there was no venue in Atlantic Canada big enough to hold the concert, so they are altering Magnetic Hill to fit the band’s stage.

“There is no stadium big enough in Atlantic Canada so we will build one and they will come,” he said in a statement.

“The impossible will become possible. Moncton will host the last North American U2 360 Tour date and it promises to be the biggest and greatest entertainment spectacle in Atlantic Canada history.”

Ticket prices will go on sale on Feb. 8 and range from $29.50 to $275. The general admission tickets are $65.

It wasn’t long after speculation started last week about U2’s pending concert date started that hotel rooms in southeastern New Brunswick started filling up.

A standard room is now going for more than $200 and some hotels are charging $379.

Along with the Rolling Stones and AC/DC, the Eagles and Bon Jovi have also played outdoor concerts at Moncton’s Magnetic Hill site.

U2 New Album Release Due in May

Paul McGuinness has reiterated that U2 is planning to have a new album out in May, in time for the North American leg of the U2 360 tour. 

Amazon.de – the German branch of the electronic commerce company – has listed the as-yet-untitled effort to come out on May 27.

No other details were available at press time about the release date.

The Irish band have been working with Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am and David Guetta on their follow-up to 2009’s ‘No Line On The Horizon’.

In December, Will.i.am said that songs he had recorded with U2 had “blown” people away when he previewed them at a party last year.

Meanwhile, U2’s Bono and The Edge are currently putting the final touches to the broadway adaptation of Spider-Man

South Africa More Tickets

Additional tickets now available for next month’s shows in Johannesburg  on February 13th and Cape Town on February 18th.

‘The U2 360° Tour is ready to roll into South Africa, and now that the production has been set, promoters Big Concerts and Live Nation have announced that the sight-lines in both venues are even better than anticipated and as such a selection of excellent tickets starting at R401 have now just been released.

Tickets in both cities are still available through Computicket (www.computicket.com or 083915800).  In addition a few select hospitality packages are still available through Warwick Hospitality on 011.385.9879. 

South Africa More Tickets

Additional tickets now available for next month’s shows in Johannesburg  on February 13th and Cape Town on February 18th.

‘The U2 360° Tour is ready to roll into South Africa, and now that the production has been set, promoters Big Concerts and Live Nation have announced that the sight-lines in both venues are even better than anticipated and as such a selection of excellent tickets starting at R401 have now just been released.

Tickets in both cities are still available through Computicket (www.computicket.com or 083915800).  In addition a few select hospitality packages are still available through Warwick Hospitality on 011.385.9879. 

Moncton Press Conference Today

Live Nation Global Touring holding press conference at noon today in Moncton. Easily one of the biggest concerts to ever rock the Maritimes is expected to be officially announced today.

But HRM Mayor Peter Kelly says there is no sour grapes that iconic rockers U2 are reportedly playing in Moncton, not Halifax, this summer.

“That’s great for them. That’s great for Atlantic Canada and I wish them well,” Kelly said yesterday. 

The concert would be the latest feather in the cap for the New Brunswick city in landing major events. 

The Rolling Stones and AC/DC have all played out of the Magnetic Hill concert site, and last September, Moncton hosted the first-ever regular season Canadian Football League game east of Quebec at its new 20,000-seat outdoor stadium. 

“We can’t keep fighting over everything,” Kelly said, referring to talk of a rivalry existing between Moncton and Halifax in landing these marquee events. “Everybody can’t get everything. We have to share those resources. They have done well and I wish them well with this concert.”

There are no outdoor shows coming to the Halifax Common this summer because of the Canada Games oval, but Kelly said there may be at least one major one on Garrisons Grounds. 

He offered no specifics, but said “there have been some discussions with some groups.”

“I can’t get into any specific names,” he said. “I’ve heard quite a few names, but the fact is that I don’t want to impact those negotiations.”

U2 Coming To Moncton, Possible ?

Although U2 originally had no plans on the horizon for additional shows this summer, it appears they might have one or two more surprises up their sleeves, including a final North American show in late July in the Maritimes as part of their 360 world tour.

Possible July 30 concert at Moncton, N.B.’s Magnetic Hill has been given a bit more clout. When a Pittsburgh concert was announced for July 26 at Heinz Field last October, the band’s online newsletter originally dubbed it as “the final date on next year’s rescheduled 360 tour.” But the news item has had its wording edited, stating Pittsburgh to be the “final US show,” making an additional Canadian date possible.

Various media outlets in Atlantic Canada are speculating about the logistics of bringing the massive claw-like stage to the proposed site, but the venue has staged shows in previous years by The Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw and The Eagles. Other outlets report an official announcement could be made as early as next week. The buzz has resulted in many of the hotels and motels in the region being fully booked for late July.

So we will call this a rumor for now -