Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s last year turned tragic after 11 fans lost their lives during the victory celebration outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The fans lost their lives in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025. After that, as per reports, competitive cricket was not allowed to be played at the venue. However, after so much effort, the return of cricket to Bengaluru comes after months of uncertainty and a rigorous clearance process by a state-appointed expert committee.
RCB has now announced that there will be 11 permanently reserved seats in the stadium. In addition, players will wear jersey number 11 during all practice sessions this season. The announcement was confirmed by Rajesh Menon, CEO of RCB, and Mo Babat, Director of cricket at the time, on Tuesday, March 24.
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CEO of RCB, Rajesh Menon, Statement on 11 Fans Who Lost Their Lives
As per the Hindu, Menon reported that: “All the players will have jersey No.11 on their back; not for the game, but for the practice.
“Apart from that, they will also be wearing black armbands on that day. We are also looking at having 11 permanent seats in Chinnaswamy Stadium forever. This is for the 11 fans who will be with us forever.”
As per India Today, he thanked the Karnataka state government and talked about Technical upgrades. During the conversation, he said: “I would like to thank the Karnataka state government, the CM, DCM, HM, Commissioner, and Joint Commissioner. We have an SOP from the Karnataka High Court which we have to follow with KSCA, RCB, and DNA under the guidance of the Karnataka state police.”
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The stadium will feature over 300 cameras. “It can give alerts in real-time if there is a queue build-up; it can alert all police and liaison authorities,” Menon explained. “Based on advice from the police, we have re-configured all entries and exits.”
Changes for Fans
By keeping in mind overcrowding, the management has moved to a digital ticketing system. As per reports, around 90% tickets will be sold online on the official website. In addition, Menon also said that ” when the fans open their ticket, they can book parking within metro stations across Bangalore.” No car drop-offs are allowed near the stadium.
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Gates will open 4 hours before to ensure a smooth entry. Also, Raipur is appointed as the second home of RCB. The unboxing event has been scrapped at the Chinnaswamy this year to maintain crowd control.
When questioned about the lack of public statements regarding internal inquiries since the accident. Menon said: “It’s subjudice. We know what’s happening. We have been cooperative with all agencies that conducted the inquiry.”