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El Salvador to build largest stadium in Central America

El Salvador has broken ground on a new 52,000-capacity stadium, set to be the largest in Central America.

The US$100 million venue, developed by the Chinese government, will host El Salvador’s national football team along with other events, such as concerts by international artists.

Located to the west of the capital city, San Salvador, the new Estadio Nacional stadium is being built in the municipality of Antiguo Cuscatlán on land currently occupied by the Capitán General Gerardo Barrios military school.

The new stadium, expected to be complete in early 2027, will replace Estadio Cuscatlán, which opened in July 1976 but is now limited to a capacity of 34,000 due to regulations from world football’s governing body, FIFA.

“We are laying the first stone of what will be the most modern stadium in Latin America”

Estadio Nacional will also offer parking space for 1,400 vehicles, with the wider complex to include two basketball courts and another football pitch.

“We are laying the first stone of what will be the most modern stadium in Latin America and the largest stadium in all of Central America,” El Salvador president Nayib Bukele told local newspaper El Mundo.

In January 2022, it was revealed that China would continue its ‘stadium diplomacy’ strategy by helping to develop a new national stadium for El Salvador.

Bukele called the partnership “a testament to the friendship between the governments of China and El Salvador”.

 


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EB Producciones launches in ‘untapped’ Central America

EB Producciones CEO Eduardo Basagana has spoken to IQ about the company’s first foray into the “untapped” Central America market.

The Miami (US) and Buenos Aires (Argentina)-headquartered company organises festivals such as PWR, the biggest all-female festival in Latin America, and has promoted tours for the likes of Karol G, Aitana and Aerosmith among others.

In addition to its presence in North and South America, EB Producciones has now formally launched operations in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

And the promoter has already had its first big success in the market with Argentine rapper Wos selling 2,000 tickets in one hour to a show at Pepper Club in San Jose, Costa Rica.

“Central America is a very interesting market for us because there’s high consumption of music but not a lot of competition”

“Central America is a very interesting market for us because there’s high consumption of music but not a lot of competition,” explains Basagana.

“Super mature markets like Europe or the US are difficult because there’s a lot of money, competition, and people – but there’s less going on in Central America. Being based in Miami, we want to become a competitive option alongside giants such as Live Nation and Move Concerts and aim to buy artists’ full Latam tours.”

The promoter also recently expanded into Spain via a partnership with Madrid-based record company 33 Producciones and is soon to announce a first show at the capital’s WiZink Center (cap. 17,000) with a renowned Latin artist.

Basagana also revealed that PWR festival, which takes place at Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena and Mexico’s Pepsi Center, will be exported to Spain.

In addition to promoting activities, EB is also known for launching +VIVO – the “most important livestreaming platform in Latam,” according to Forbes – during the pandemic and broadcasting the first-ever online concert from a K-pop group in Latin America – for which, Basagana was awarded a special mention by the Korean government.

 


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Nine dead in Guatemala music festival stampede

At least nine people have died, including two 12-year-old children, following a stampede at a rock music festival marking Guatemalan Independence Day.

The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday (15 September) in the city of Quetzaltenango, about 125 miles west of Guatemala City.

More than 20 people were also injured in the incident, with several requiring hospital treatment for suspected fractures. Thousands of concertgoers were reportedly in attendance at the annual outdoor show in Central America’s most populous country. The event, which started on Wednesday afternoon, was reportedly sponsored by a beer maker and held on a field often used for music shows.

“The Guatemalan Red Cross and volunteer firefighters stabilised more than 20 injured people and nine people died at the scene”

“The Guatemalan Red Cross and volunteer firefighters stabilised more than 20 injured people and nine people died at the scene,” tweeted the relief agency.

The Associated Press reports that a number of attendees were crushed during rock band Bohemia Suburbana’s closing performance, as people tried to leave as others were entering.

“Because of the rain there was a lot of mud,” says Nancy Quemé, who attended the concert. “I think because of this the people couldn’t move and they fell.”

Social media videos show dozens of concertgoers smashing into each other and people piled on top of one another on the ground. CBS News notes that shouts can be heard calling for people to stop pushing and to move to one side so those who fell could be rescued.

The report adds that Quetzaltenango city manager Amilcar Rivas said the event had a permit but organisers did not have a grip on security and crowd control.

 


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