BENGALURU — In a somber but deeply respectful move, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced a series of permanent tributes to honor the 11 fans who tragically lost their lives during the team’s title victory celebrations last year.
RCB CEO Rajesh Menon detailed the commemorative actions during a press conference on Tuesday, emphasizing that the victims will “be with us in spirit always.”
Honoring the Victims To keep the memory of the lost fans alive, the franchise is implementing the following tributes for the current season and beyond:
-
11 Empty Seats: Eleven specific seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will be left permanently vacant during all domestic and international matches.
-
Practice Jerseys: All RCB players will wear jersey number 11 during their practice sessions throughout the entire season.
-
Match Day Armbands: Players will wear black armbands during all official matches in the current edition of the tournament.
Background of the Tragedy On June 4, 2025, a devastating stampede occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as an estimated massive crowd of 300,000 gathered to celebrate RCB’s championship win. The severe overcrowding led to 11 fatalities and left over 50 people injured.
Following the disaster, the Karnataka government held RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event partners accountable for failing to secure the necessary safety approvals and creating unsafe conditions. In response, the RCB franchise provided a compensation of ₹25 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.
Return to Chinnaswamy and Enhanced Safety Since the tragic event, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had not hosted any RCB matches. However, with new government approvals and strict safety protocols in place, the team is set to return to their home ground.
-
RCB will play five matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season.
-
The remaining two home games will be hosted in Raipur.
Menon assured the public that significant precautionary measures have been implemented for this season, and the franchise remains in active discussion regarding further support for the families of the victims.
