Mexican Promoters, Venues Cancel Events Following The Death Of Powerful Cartel Leader

Mexican venues and promoters canceled several concerts and events throughout the country, especially in Guadalajara, as the nation deals with the aftermath of the army killing drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels.

Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” reportedly died when he was being transported to Mexico City after he was wounded and captured in Tapalpa, Jalisco, which is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Guadalajara, the state’s capital. As reports of Oseguera Cervantes’ death spread across the country Sunday morning, cartel members burned businesses and cars to block roads and military operations in cities across more than a dozen states.

Several airlines, including American, Southwest, United, Delta, Alaska and Air Canada, canceled flights in and out of certain parts of Mexico dealing with cartel-related violence.

Authorities in Guadalajara urged residents to stay indoors, making the vibrant cultural hub a ghost town on Sunday. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro called for the cancellation of all major events on Sunday. In-person classes on Monday were also canceled.

Kali Uchis was scheduled to perform Sunday at Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara, but promoter OCESA and the venue posted messages on social media stating that the event was canceled due to circumstances beyond their control. The venue added that its box office would be closed on Monday.

Several musical events in other states, including a La Arrolladora Banda El Limón concert in Michoacán, were either postponed or canceled.

Estadio Akron announced that Sunday’s women’s soccer match between C.D. Guadalajara and Club América, the biggest rivalry in Mexican soccer, was postponed.

Arena Guadalajara, Teatro Diana and Jalisco’s philharmonic also canceled their events and closed their box offices. Arena Guadalajara stated that its box office would remain closed until further notice.

Videos of the panic at Guadalajara’s airport and violence that erupted throughout the city following the drug lord’s death went viral on social media, prompting the question as to whether FIFA would move forward with having Jalisco’s capital as a host for this summer’s World Cup.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau lauded Mexico’s action against “one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins.”

“This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys,” Landau wrote on X.

While many celebrated the Mexican government’s successful operation, a lot of uncertainty looms in several parts of the country, especially Jalisco, as security forces deal with the cartel’s response to the death of Oseguera Cervantes. There are concerns that his death will lead to more violence as other criminal organizations battle to control some of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s territories.

It is also unknown how long it will take for some semblance of normalcy to return to Guadalajara, or whether musical events will go on as scheduled. Arena Guadalajara, the newest venue in the city, has three concerts scheduled over the next six days, including one from Bryan Adams, and Auditorio Telmex also has three shows booked this week, including Air Supply.