IPL 2025: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium flagged "unsuitable and unsafe" to host after stampede row

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru may be barred from hosting high-attendance events as the government has decided to act on the findings of the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission report, which concluded that the stadium’s design and structure are unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings.

The Commission was set up to investigate the tragic stampede that occurred on June 4 outside the stadium, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. The incident took place on the road surrounding the venue during the victory parade celebrations following Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s triumph at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

The report highlighted several critical shortcomings, including the lack of purpose-built queuing and circulation zones separated from public roads, an insufficient number of gates for large-scale entry and exit, inadequate integration with public transport and tourist hubs, and the absence of emergency evacuation plans compliant with international safety standards. Sufficient parking and drop-off infrastructure to handle attendee volumes.

“Any future venue should adhere to international standards,” the Commission said as quoted by the Deccan Herald.

“Until such infrastructural changes are made, continuing to host high attendance events at the current location poses unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility and emergency preparedness,” the panel said in its report.

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Current structure obstructs pedestrian, vehicular movements during crowded events

Built in 1974, the 32,000-capacity structure premises are possessed and managed by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The stadium spans 16 acres and 32 guntas of land owned by the Public Works Department (PWD), which leased the property to the KSCA for a period of 99 years beginning in July 1969. There was also a National Cricket Academy facility next to the venue, 

“The design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering [sic]. All the entry and exit gates were directly opening into the footpath. Spacious and organized holding area for crowd were not provided at the entry, as a result, the audience were forced to queue up on the footpath or road (obstructing) and endangering pedestrians and vehicular movement as well as giving scope for miscreants to join the crowd aggravating the risk, especially in the absence of proper security,” the report said.

The panel has recommended action against KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, ex-secretary A Shanlar, ex-treasurer E S Jairam, RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon, DNA Entertainment Networks MD T Venkat Vardhan and VP Sunil Mathur, police officers B Dayananda, Vikash Kumar Vikash, Shekhar H Tekkannavar, C Balakrishna and A K Girish. The government is likely to decide on the recommendations in the next Cabinet meeting.

Chinnaswamy set to host Maharaja Trophy

The historic venue is now slated to host the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 for the 2025 edition of the state-based 20-over tournament. All the 34 matches of the league will be hosted in Bengaluru, and it seems that the tournament hasn't received any objections in terms of hosting games at the Chinnaswamy. The tournament will begin on August 11 and run up until August 28.