Royal Challengers Bengaluru is one of the most popular IPL teams, which is yet to win their maiden IPL title. They have been a part of the tournament ever since its inaugural season and have also shown impressive performances.
The highest position they’ve ended up in the tournament is the runners-up, being the finalists in the 2009, 2011, and 2016 seasons respectively. The team played its first final against Deccan Chargers, where they lost the game by 6 runs, missing on their inaugural title.
Their last final appearance came in the 2016 season under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. The team lost the finals against Sunrisers Hyderabad by just a margin of 8 runs. Finishing as the runners-up of the 2016 season, the team grabbed 10 crore INR of the prize pool. Moreover, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been to the playoffs 9 times.
Social Media
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has made its presence over social media platforms, being one of the most popular IPL teams. The best part about the popularity of this team is the loyalty of the fanbase, which has helped them garner millions of followers.
This also makes the team stand at the third spot in the list of the most popular IPL teams in terms of social media fan following. This has been possible due to the team’s consistent performances in the IPL seasons, along with some of the star players like Virat Kohli, who represents the team. Having great popularity across social media platforms, this team has also grabbed the attention of various sponsors across the tournament.
Sponsorships: Key Partnerships
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has been able to create value among the fans with its performances both on and off the field, which helped the company attract various sponsors. There are several companies that have partnered with the team in the current IPL season, which has been beneficial for both parties. The company is able to get itself promoted at the biggest cricket league around the world and the team is able to receive sponsorship revenue. Here, we will be looking at the companies which have sponsored RCB in the IPL season.
Title Sponsors: Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways has been the title sponsor for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a long time and they have also sponsored the team in the current season. The logo of this famous airline can be seen by the fans on the match and practice jerseys of the team, being represented at the front. Also, they will be able to see various RCB players being featured in the advertisements of Qatar Airways, which helps the airline attract more customers.
Principal Partners
This team has a total of three principal sponsors, partnering with companies like:
- KEI: This is a wire and cables company popular in India, and its logo will be visible at the back of the jersey, below the jersey number;
- Delhivery: It is a courier company that is also a principal partner for RCB, with its logo available on the jersey front;
- Jio: The famous sim company of India is also a principal partner for RCB, along with various other IPL teams.
Associate Sponsors
Along with the Principal sponsors, the team also has various associate sponsors, which help it in the IPL journey.
- PUMA: It is a sportswear company that has been strongly popular across the world, and it is also associated with RCB;
- Hindware Italian Collection: This company provides home appliances and also has an Italian collection of products;
- Boat: It is known for its music products, such as headphones, earbuds, and various others, being linked as an associate sponsor for the team;
- Confirmtkt: This train booking platform also joined the list of associate sponsors for the team in the current season;
- Birla Estates: This real estate company also joined the list of associate sponsors for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the current season;
- Nippon Paint: This company has been preferred by various home builders, and it is also an associate sponsor for them.
Official Partners
A number of companies have linked themselves as the official partners of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the current IPL season.
- Tap with GPay: This payment application has been an official partner for the team;
- Bisleri: The packaged water company also joined the list of official team partners;
- Royal Challenge: It is an Indian Whiskey, which is also the official partner of the team;
- Dream11: This fantasy app has partnered with various IPL teams along with RCB;
- Kingfisher: It is also a beer company established in Bengaluru, being an official partner of this team;
- Jiocinema: The broadcasting partner of the tournament also sponsors this team, along with various others;
- Bigbasket Now: An app to meet your daily grocery needs, also the official partner for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru;
- ARL Tyres: It is known for high-quality tires, as it joined the official partner list;
- Payzapp: The payment app for HDFC Bank has also been its official partner for years;
- Naukri: This platform is dedicated to providing job opportunities to the Indians, also being an official partner;
- Hangyo: The ice cream company also partnered with this IPL team in the current season;
- Manipal Hospitals: It is a hospital chain providing reasonable healthcare services, being also a partner for the team;
- Navitassolar: The solar energy company also joined hands with RCB as an official partner;
- Kwality: This is a dairy company linked with RCB as an official partner for the current season;
- Pexpo: Known for its water bottles, this brand also made it to the list of official sponsors for the team;
- KPT: This company is known for electric power tools and it recently became an official partner for the team;
- Hurricane: The energy drink brand also collaborated with RCB as an official partner;
- ITC Master Chef Creations: The frozen food products manufacturer is also a partner for the team this season;
- NVY: This company is known for TV appliances, especially those manufactured in Bengaluru;
- Advance: Known for home construction items such as finishes, this company is also an official partner this season;
- Duroflex: The best mattress provider in India, has also been an official partner in the current season;
- BoldFit: This brand provides gym and fitness products and is also an official partner for Royal Challengers Bengaluru;
- Frido: This brand is based in Pune and provides body support products to customers;
- Kotak Life: An insurance company, known in India for years, is also an official partner in the current season;
- Fever: This FM radio will be providing coverage and insights into all the RCB games;
- 92.7 Big FM: The popular FM channel is also an official partner of the team to provide its coverage to the fans.
Exclusive Ticketing Partner: TicketGenie
TicketGenie is the exclusive ticketing partner for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the current IPL season. Fans can book the tickets for the home matches of the team from the official website of RCB or TicketGenie itself. Along with that, it also provides fans with an opportunity to book tickets for the RCB events taking place at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Business Operations and Financials
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is able to receive a good amount of money with the help of sponsorships, which strengthens the team financially for the IPL season. Along with that, it is also able to generate revenue from various other sources, which include media rights, merchandise sales, prize money, and a lot more. This further helps to strengthen the financials of the team, as fans can take a look at the sources of its income.
Media Rights
The broadcasting rights of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2023 to 2027 season were sold by the BCCI to Star India and Viacom18. These rights were valued at the price of 48,390 crore INR for all the seasons combined. For every season, the BCCI keeps approximately 40 to 50% of the total media rights, as the remaining amount is equally distributed to the IPL teams. Royal Challengers Bengaluru can generate impressive earnings with the help of media rights.
Sponsorship Revenue
Several companies have partnered themselves with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the current IPL season, contributing to the team’s sponsorship revenue. The team has collaborated with companies like Jiocinema, Dream11, Kwality, PUMA, Kotak Life, and various others. According to some reports, the team has reportedly earned 15.5 million dollars from sponsorships in the IPL 2023 season, as the earnings for the current season have not been revealed.
Stadium Ticket Sales
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is the home ground for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and this ground hosts all the home matches of the team, attracting the attention of various RCB fans in the country. The ground has a maximum capacity of 35,000 spectators, and when the team’s matches take place here, it is mostly jam-packed as fans enjoy the thrilling IPL action.
Merchandise Sales
Royal Challengers Bengaluru also sells its own merchandise, which can be bought by the team’s fans from the official website of the team or the PUMA’s official page. They will be able to buy the fan jersey, replica jersey, pants, caps, shorts, and much more. Also, the team was able to generate higher revenue from merchandise sales during the IPL season, and they also changed the jersey’s design in the IPL 2024 season.
Prize Money
Although Royal Challengers Bengaluru is yet to win their first IPL title, the team has shown consistent performances in the tournament so far. They have reached the final three times and been to the playoffs nine times. When they finished in the second spot in the 2016 season, the team was able to receive 10 crore INR from the prize pool of the tournament. Despite their journey without the title, the team has been able to generate revenue via the prize money.
Recent Developments: WPL
Royal Challengers Bengaluru also acquired a team in the Women’s Premier League, named Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women. This team has been playing in the tournament since its inaugural edition and was also able to win the WPL 2024 title, defeating Delhi Capitals in the finals. The women’s team is also able to receive sponsorships from companies like Kajaria, Mia by Tanishq, Royal Challenge, Himalaya, Sunfeast, and many more.
Conclusion
Therefore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, despite not winning any title, has been one of the most popular IPL teams, which helps the team to receive a hefty amount with the help of sponsorships. Along with that, they are also able to generate revenue with the help of media rights, stadium ticket sales, prize money for the tournament, merchandise sales, and many others.
Comments