RCB to Leave 11 Seats Empty, Wear No. 11 Jerseys & Black Bands For Stampede Victims

Permanent Empty Seats at Chinnaswamy

To commemorate those who were lost, RCB will permanently reserve 11 seats at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, leaving them empty as a symbol of remembrance. The players have also committed to wearing the number 11 jersey during their training, leading up to the season opener against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28. On the day of the match, they will wear black armbands to further honor the victims.

Menon: Fans With Us Always

In a recent pre-tournament press conference, RCB's CEO Rajesh Menon spoke about these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of remembering those who were lost and the team's commitment to improving safety for their fans.
“In memory of the 11 fans that we lost on June 4th, the players will be wearing jersey number 11 before the match during practice, and all the players will have the jersey number 11 on their backs. They will also be wearing a black armband on the day,” Rajesh said.
“We are also looking at having 11 permanent seats empty at the Chinnaswamy Stadium forever. This is for the 11 fans who will be with us forever,” he added.

Rs 7 Crore for Crowd Safety

He revealed that the franchise has invested nearly Rs 7 crore to enhance crowd management infrastructure around the stadium, a necessary step following the tragic events.
"We have invested approximately Rs 7 crore towards enhancing crowd management infrastructure, including multiple baggage scanners and command centres," Menon said

All Safety Rules Met

RCB, in collaboration with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), has worked diligently to meet all safety specifications set forth by the Karnataka State Government and the High Court. As the reigning champions prepare for the upcomingIPL season, they will play five matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, starting with the highly anticipated game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.