RCB Reserves 11 Empty Seats in Chinnaswamy Stadium Forever: Here’s Why
RCB’s historic first IPL win in 2025 was followed by a tragic stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading to deaths and stricter safety measures ahead of IPL 2026.
On 3 June 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first-ever IPL title against Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium—a historic moment.
However, a victory parade on 4 June near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium saw a tragic stampede with ~3 lakh attendees, leaving 11 dead and 50 injured. The Karnataka government announced ?10 lakh compensation per family, while RCB announced ?25 lakh. Authorities held organisers, including the franchise and Karnataka State Cricket Association, responsible, and matches at the stadium were suspended for nearly 10 months.
In tribute, RCB (led by CEO Rajesh Menon) will:
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Wear jersey number 11 in practice and black armbands on match days
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Keep 11 seats permanently empty
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Install a memorial plaque with victims’ names
IPL 2026 matches will resume with strict measures:
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Tickets only via official app
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Wider gates + 13 new entries
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500+ AI CCTV cameras
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Ban on large bags/electronics
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No outside celebrations
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Mock drills for safety
RCB will play 5 matches in Bengaluru and 2 in Raipur.
Meanwhile, RCB was sold for ~$1.78B to a consortium (including Aditya Birla Group and Blackstone), while Rajasthan Royals was acquired for ~$1.63B by a US-based group led by Kal Somani.
