RCB make final attempt to play at Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2026, It will cost Rs 4.5 Crore

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RCB has proposed installing 300 to 350 AI-enabled cameras at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to revolutionize crowd management and boost fan safety.

This initiative, part of the RCB Cares program, stems from a tragic stampede on June 4, 2025, during the team's IPL victory celebrations that killed 11 fans and injured 50 others.

The 2025 stampede exposed critical safety gaps at the 35,000-capacity stadium, home to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). No competitive cricket has occurred there since, with the state government rejecting Vijay Hazare Trophy matches due to unmet safety standards. The Women's World Cup matches were also taken away and the matches, including the final, was moved to Navi Mumbai.

RCB's formal letter to KSCA on January 16, 2026, commits to funding the ₹4.5 crore one-time cost entirely for the AI powered cameras.

Technology Details

Partnering with Staqu, a firm experienced in AI for public safety with state police forces, RCB's system analyzes video, audio, and text data in real time. It detects violence, unauthorized access, intrusions, and manages queues, entries, exits, and crowd flow for quicker law enforcement responses.

Amid speculation of RCB exiting Bengaluru as an IPL venue, this move reassures stakeholders ahead of the 2026 season, where RCB defends their title. This is the last-ditch attempt the Royal Challengers Bengaluru management has made to stay at their base.

Although KSCA may approve the innovative method to control the crowd, the real approval lies within the Bengaluru Municipality, as their green signal can only restore Chinnaswamy Stadium in the mix for IPL 2026. For now, RCB have also prepared to adopt homes as Raipur and Indore are being considered for the upcoming season.