Before the start of 2026 IPL season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru took a major step to make their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, safer for fans. The team spent about Rs 7 crore to completely upgrade their crowd management system.
When was this decided?
This decision was made following a tragic accident on 4th June, 2025 when a stampede broke out during celebrations for the team’s championship win. Sadly, 11 people lost their lives in that incident. After the tragedy, the Karnataka government and the High Court had to get involved to ensure better safety measures were put in place.
What changes happened?
During a pre-season press conference, RCB CEO Rajesh Menon explained that the stadium now uses advanced AI-based CCTV cameras. These cameras are placed inside, outside and in every seating section of the stadium to keep fans safe.
The entire system is connected to an artificial intelligence tool called “Jarvis.” This tool counts the crowd in real-time and sends out an automatic alert if an area becomes too crowded. The live video is also shared directly with the Police Commissioner’s office so that authorities can monitor the situation and respond quickly if needed.
Following the tragic stampede last year, the team has fully followed the safety orders given by the Karnataka government and the High Court. Because of these strict new safety rules, the popular “Unbox” event that usually happens before the season was cancelled this year.
RCB CEO Rajesh Menon explained that the team has been working extremely hard since June 4 to improve security. He stated that they have treated the situation with great urgency to make sure every safety rule is in place for the fans.
Major changes in entry and exit
Under the new rules:
- Parking must be booked in advance
- All stadium gates will open 4 hours before the match
- Entry and exit points have been redesigned
- Ticket holders will get metro travel on match day
