Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wants to upgrade M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. They’ve formally proposed a Rs 4.5 crore AI-enabled surveillance system to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). This is all about fixing those long-standing crowd management issues before IPL 2026.
It’s a big move. RCB is paying for the whole thing. The partnership with tech firm Staqu means 300 to 350 AI-powered cameras are on the way. These cameras will have facial recognition and real-time analytics. Better safety and a smoother fan experience is the goal. NDTV Sports broke the news earlier today, January 16, 2026.
Chinnaswamy’s Crowd Crunch
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB’s home, gets packed. We all know that. For years, IPL games there have meant chaos. Overcrowding, long queues, unauthorized entries, safety risks. It’s a 35,000-capacity venue, but demand for RCB matches is through the roof, especially with Virat Kohli playing.
Fans struggled in past seasons. Stampede-like situations at gates were a problem. Entry delays happened all the time. But this new AI solution aims to change that. It’ll use advanced AI video analytics. Processing video, audio, and text data in real-time. That’s a huge step.
The Tech That Changes Everything
The system is packed with features. Facial recognition and intelligent monitoring, for one. It tracks crowd movement. Ensures disciplined queuing. Also monitors entries and exits. Prevents unauthorized access, which is a big deal.
Incident detection is also key. Early alerts for violence, intrusions, or perimeter breaches will go straight to law enforcement. This means faster response times. And data-driven intelligence helps. It accelerates investigations with automated analysis. Staqu, RCB’s partner, specializes in public safety automation. Their tech is already used by state police forces for surveillance, so they know their stuff.
RCB isn’t asking the KSCA for money. They’re covering the full Rs 4.5 crore cost. It’s about $540,000 USD. This positions RCB as a franchise that invests in stadium infrastructure. Not just a team that plays there.
What’s Next for Bengaluru
RCB sent their formal proposal to KSCA today. It outlined the benefits: “improved public safety and seamless matchday experience.” The franchise stressed this system will empower KSCA and police. Giving them better crowd control tools. The club even shared it on X, their official account, posting: “Advanced AI video analytics technology for [the stadium].” Deccan Herald also highlighted this in their coverage on their X account.
No official response from KSCA yet. It’s still a proposal. But the goal is to have it ready for IPL 2026. That’s March-May. Fans on social media seem pretty enthusiastic about smoother matchdays. And why wouldn’t they be?
This initiative aligns with the IPL’s push for tech-driven fan experiences. Especially after RCB’s reported IPL 2025 title win. It could set a standard for other franchises. Amid rising attendance and higher safety demands from the BCCI. This multi-modal analytics could even help Bengaluru police with investigations beyond match days.
It’s an interesting time for cricket. Technology is changing how we experience the game. And RCB is leading the charge in Bengaluru. Let’s see if the KSCA gives it the green light soon. Updates should come within days, you’d think. The IPL 2026 season isn’t that far off.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Ishaan Singh