Bengaluru Stampede Aftermath: RCB Owner on the Brink of Selling IPL Franchise—Is This the End for Royal Challengers Bangalore?
Bengaluru, India, June 10, 2025 – A tragic stampede outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, during Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL victory parade has left 11 dead and many injured, shaking Indian cricket. Now, RCB's owner, Diageo, is reportedly considering selling the franchise as legal battles, financial risks, and public outrage grow. Here's how the crisis unfolded and what's next for RCB.
A Joyous Day Turns Deadly
The celebration went wrong:
- After RCB's first IPL title win on June 3, 2025, against Punjab Kings, thousands gathered for a victory parade and felicitation at Vidhan Soudha.
- Organized by RCB, Karnataka State Cricket Association, and DNA Entertainment, the event ignored police warnings about crowd control, leading to a stampede.
- Eleven lives were lost, and over 50 people were injured, sparking grief and anger across the city.
The tragedy turned RCB's triumph into a nightmare.
Legal Storm Hits RCB
The fallout was swift:
- Police filed an FIR against RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the cricket association, charging them with negligence.
- Four RCB officials, including marketing head Nikhil Sosale, were arrested, with Sosale detained at Bengaluru's airport on June 6.
- The Karnataka government launched a judicial probe led by a retired High Court judge and handed the case to the Criminal Investigation Department.
RCB's attempt to quash the case in court was denied on June 10.
Public and Political Backlash
Anger runs deep:
- Families of victims demanded justice and compensation, rallying outside the stadium.
- On X, fans posted, “RCB's win was historic, but this loss is unforgivable.”
- Another wrote, “How could they ignore the police? Fans deserved safety.”
- The state suspended a senior police official, but no cricket association leaders resigned, despite public calls.
The crisis has tested Bengaluru's spirit.
BCCI Steps Back
The cricket board responded:
- BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia called the stampede “unfortunate” but clarified it was RCB's event, not the board's.
- He promised stricter safety rules for future celebrations, citing the 2024 T20 World Cup parade's planning with Mumbai police.
- Rumors of a 2026 IPL ban for RCB swirled, but no decision is confirmed until the probe concludes.
The BCCI aims to prevent future tragedies.
Diageo's Exit Plan
The owner faces pressure:
- Diageo, RCB's parent company through United Spirits, is exploring a sale, possibly valuing the franchise at $2 billion.
- The stampede's reputational damage, legal costs, and a new ban on alcohol ads in IPL 2025 have strained Diageo's position.
- Talks with advisors are ongoing, though no final sale is certain.
A sale could reshape RCB's future.
What's at Stake for RCB
The franchise is in limbo:
- RCB's brand, worth over $117 million in 2024, soared after the IPL win, but the tragedy threatens its market value.
- Fans worry about the team's stability, with one X post saying, “RCB without Diageo? It's hard to imagine.”
- The probe's findings will decide if RCB faces fines, a ban, or leadership changes.
The team's legacy hangs in the balance.
The Road Ahead
RCB faces tough days:
- The judicial probe and CID investigation will probe negligence, with results expected to shape legal outcomes.
- RCB pledged financial aid for victims' families, but public trust remains shaky.
- The IPL and BCCI plan to tighten crowd safety rules, ensuring no repeat of this heartbreak.
Bengaluru mourns as RCB fights to rebuild.
