Royal Challengers Bengaluru CEO Rajesh Menon announced a series of tributes to honour the 11 fans who lost their lives in last year’s tragic incident outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the franchise prepares for its return to the venue after a long gap, Menon said these gestures are meant to ensure the victims are remembered throughout the season and to acknowledge the emotional impact the tragedy had on the club and its supporters.
Speaking ahead of the new season, Menon said, “In memory of the 11 fans who we lost on June 4, the players will be wearing jersey number 11 for the practice, on the game day, and on the practice time before the match. So all the players will have jersey number 11 on the back, not for the game but for the practice.”
He added that the tribute will extend into matchdays as well, “Apart from that, they will also be wearing a black armband on that day. We are also looking at 11 permanent seats remaining empty at Chinnaswamy Stadium permanently. This is for the 11 fans who will be with us forever. That’s a quick update on what we are doing this year.”
Menon also confirmed that the franchise has introduced several precautionary measures this season, with further discussions planned on additional support for the victims’ families.
The tribute comes in the aftermath of the tragic 2025 Bengaluru stampede on June 4, 2025, when massive crowds gathered outside the stadium to celebrate RCB’s title win. The situation spiralled into a deadly stampede, claiming 11 lives and injuring more than 50 people, with an estimated 300,000 fans present.
Following the incident, the Government of Karnataka held RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and event partners accountable for lapses, including failure to secure proper permissions. The franchise later announced compensation of ₹25 lakh for each of the deceased fans’ families.
After not hosting matches since the tragedy, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is set to welcome back RCB games this season with official approval. The team will play five matches in Bengaluru, while two home fixtures will take place in Raipur as previously scheduled.
