RCB’s crowd management plan ahead of IPL 2026: Key changes explained

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have spent nearly Rs 7 crore to improve crowd safety at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This comes almost a year after a tragic stampede during the team’s IPL victory celebrations, where 11 fans lost their lives. It is being seen as the biggest upgrade to crowd management at the stadium so far.

The incident happened on June 4, 2025, when a huge number of fans gathered outside the stadium to celebrate RCB’s title win. The crowd became uncontrollable, leading to a deadly stampede. The tragedy led to widespread criticism and also drew attention from the Karnataka government and the High Court.

RCB CEO Rajesh Menon spoke about the changes during the team’s pre-season press meet on Tuesday. He explained the steps taken to make sure such an incident does not happen again.

"We have invested approximately Rs 7 crore towards enhancing crowd management infrastructure, including multiple baggage scanners and command centres," Menon said.

ALSO READ: Big blow for DC as opener withdraws from IPL 2026, set to be banned for 2 years

AI Cameras and a New Command Centre

The stadium now has AI-powered CCTV cameras installed across key areas, including inside the ground, walkways, and nearby surroundings. These cameras are supported by an AI system called Jarvis, which can track crowd numbers in real time and send alerts for each stand. The live feed will also be available to the Commissioner’s office for monitoring.

ALSO READ: Rinku Singh rewarded with leadership role in KKR alongside Rahane for IPL 2026

"This system provides real-time alerts, including stand-specific crowd counts, to ensure better monitoring and control," Menon said.

RCB has also followed all the guidelines given by the Karnataka government and the High Court. As part of these measures, the team has cancelled its popular pre-season ‘Unbox’ event this year.

"It has been a long journey since June 4, and everything has been executed on a war footing. We have worked to follow the SOPs provided by the court and ensure all protocols are in place," Menon said.

New Rules and Changes

The agreements between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Karnataka State Cricket Association, and RCB have also been updated. Now, KSCA will act as a co-organiser along with the franchise and will handle emergency planning and safety procedures. Earlier, RCB was fully responsible for organising events, while KSCA only provided the venue.

Entry and exit systems at the stadium have been improved. All gates will now open four hours before the match. Fans with tickets will also get metro access on match days, and parking can be booked in advance.

RCB will begin their IPL 2026 home matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. The team is set to play five matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season.