11 RCB fans immortalised after death: Seats reserved forever at Chinnaswamy stadium
A memorial plaque will also be installed. RCB returns to home ground after tragedy, plays first match vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28th
Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): IPL 2026 is set to begin on March 28th. The tournament's first match will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ahead of the tournament's start, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has taken a special step to honor those killed in last year's tragic stampede.
KSCA and RCB have jointly decided that 11 seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will be permanently kept vacant in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. These seats will remain vacant during every match and event, whether it is an IPL match or an international match. Additionally, a memorial plaque will be installed near the stadium entrance. This space will serve as a place of silence for people to remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
"We will install a memorial plaque near the entrance and reserve 11 seats in the stadium in memory of those killed in the stampede. I can't reveal more details right now. I think we will share more information about this at the press conference on Tuesday evening," sources told IANS.
It is noteworthy that RCB won the IPL 2025 title, ending an 18-year drought. To celebrate this victory, RCB organized an event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, a massive crowd of fans gathered outside the stadium, leading to a stampede that claimed the lives of 11 people. Over 50 others were injured in the tragic accident.
The Karnataka government held RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and other event partners responsible for the accident. RCB announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Since the stampede, no RCB matches have been played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Now, after receiving government permission, the team will be playing at its home ground again in IPL 2026. RCB will play a total of five matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this season, with two home matches scheduled in Raipur.