Bengaluru, March 24. The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), CEO Rajesh Menon stated that 11 seats will remain empty at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium throughout all domestic and international matches to honor the lives of those who died in the stampede following their title victory last season.
Menon also said that players will wear jersey number 11 in practice matches throughout the season and will wear black armbands in all their matches this edition.
"As a tribute to the 11 fans we lost on June 4, the players will wear jersey number 11 for practice, on game day, and during practice sessions before the match. So, all players will have jersey number 11 on the back, not for the actual game, but for practice.
"In addition, they will also wear black armbands on that day. We are also considering having 11 permanent seats permanently empty at Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is for the 11 fans who will always be with us. This is a quick update on what we are doing this year," Menon told the media during a press conference on Tuesday.
He further stated that several changes have been made this season as precautionary measures, and necessary safety steps are being implemented, and discussions will be held on what more can be done for the families of the victims in the future.
On June 4, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during RCB's victory celebrations. The disaster resulted in 11 fans losing their lives and over 50 sustaining injuries, caused by severe overcrowding with approximately 300,000 people present.
The Karnataka government held RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and event partners responsible for not obtaining the required approvals and for causing a disturbance. The franchise subsequently announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each deceased individual.
Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted any RCB games since the tragic stampede. Now, with government approval, RCB will play five matches at Chinnaswamy, while two home games will be held in Raipur, as previously announced by the franchise.