RCB To Have New Owners As Diageo Looks To Sell Club After Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy | Reports

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June 10, 2025 0 526

RCB Might Have New Owners

RCB

RCB’s current owners are considering selling the club in the wake of the Bengaluru tragedy, as per recent reports.

Following a fatal stampede during their IPL victory celebrations that claimed eleven lives, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) owners Diageo Plc are reportedly exploring the potential sale of part or all of the franchise according to Bloomberg. The British alcohol giant, operating through its Indian subsidiary United Spirits Ltd, is said to be seeking a valuation around $2 billion and has engaged advisers, though no final decision has been made.

This development comes amidst severe backlash over the tragic incident outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. A massive crowd gathered for a planned victory parade and team felicitation, leading to a stampede. An FIR has been filed against RCB, event organizer DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association.

The tragedy sparked nationwide outrage and coincided with increased scrutiny of alcohol advertising in cricket. The Indian Ministry of Health issued a pre-IPL 2025 advisory urging a strict ban on all tobacco and alcohol promotions, including surrogate advertising.

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The Director General of Health Services, Atul Goel, wrote in a letter to IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal, “IPL should strictly implement the regulations banning all forms of tobacco/alcohol advertising, including surrogate advertisements, within the stadium premises where the games and related IPL events are held, as well as during telecast sessions on national television.”

Goel added, “Discourage promotion of sportspersons (including commentators) who directly or indirectly endorse products directly or indirectly linked to alcohol or tobacco.”

This context makes Diageo’s ownership of RCB, a team intrinsically linked to its United Spirits brand, increasingly complex. The reported sale exploration follows RCB’s historic first IPL championship win last week against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, a triumph now overshadowed by the subsequent tragedy and its repercussions.