Amplifier

Copper Thieves Conspire Against U2′s South Africa Concert

By | Amplifier – Fri, Feb 4, 2011 9:53 PM EST

Just days after U2's 360° Tour forced the relocation of the Florida Marlins/Seattle Mariners series from Miami to Seattle, Bono's trek is once again thwarting sporting events worldwide. This time, a South African national soccer game was canceled so the stadium hosting it can make repairs before U2 comes to Johannesburg on February 13th. However, it's not entirely U2's fault: A band of copper thieves are being blamed for stealing the power cables needed to light the stadium, the AP reports.

The price of copper is on the rise, and as long as we have those copper-plated pennies in our monetary system, there will always be a demand for the element. Because of the missing copper, officials had the difficult choice between (A) having the soccer game and canceling the U2 concert or (B) canceling the game in order to make the necessary repairs to the stadium's power generators so U2 can perform on February 13th (Grammy night!). They chose (B), and for good reason: U2's concert at FNB Stadium is expected to draw 98,000 fans, or 4,000 more fans that attended the World Cup Final at the stadium last year. Are no sports safe from the wrath of Bono?

[Photo: Matt Jelonek/WireImage.com]

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