Royal Challengers Bangalore has taken a giant step forward in merging sports and lifestyle. RCB is intending to show a new path to the audience in India while fusing together performance improvement and excellence on and off the field with the introduction of innovative concepts, a first in the Indian sporting landscape — RCB Innovation Lab.
It aims to generate insight, ideas, methodologies and products that shape the future of sports in India. At the core of this aim is an aspiration to develop adaptable people and leaders, capable of driving performance improvement and excellence on and off the field.
RCB innovation Lab is based on two principles, to bring sports innovation to as many people and to collaborate with innovative organisations.
RCB in association with the LEADERS, organiser of the most prestigious global sports communities through events, communities and intelligence will connect the most influential people in sports to the most powerful ideas in Sports, thereby bringing the leaders of global sports together in India for the first time and discuss and drive the future of sports in South East Asia.
Through this initiative they plan to break boundaries; create a platform where sports, business, tech, media and performance meet. They share ambitious plans to propel growth in the regional and international sports market, both on and off the field.
They will host the biggest names in sports and media together in a single platform from over 15+ countries over an exploratory two-day meet, checking how to tap an ever-growing, vibrant Indian sports market on and off the field.
Besides, RCB will provide an unmatched opportunity to close to 750 senior executives and participating brands with a unique opportunity to share their brand story with the key regional and international leaders in sport.
However, one of the biggest features of the RCB Innovation Lab is venturing into Sports Ed Tech, Research & Development for performance enhancement and the setting up of startup accelerator programmes with leading sports & health tech accelerators.
RCB will also establish an AI-backed cricket coaching and talent ID platform, helping to identify and develop RCB stars of the future.
RCB to transform the Go Green Initiative into a movement with a holistic approach to carbon neutrality which aims to make Chinnaswamy Green stadium, Lake Rejuvenation and Green Schools.
Rajesh Menon, Head & Vice President of Royal Challengers Bangalore, said,
“With the RCB Innovation Lab, will be an attempt to take Sports Tech to next level in India. We, want to contribute and create meaningful footprints in sports in India which just do not confine to the playing arena alone we believe if sports have to grow, then all aspects of sports have to grow as well and we are on that journey with this vision.”
Mo Bobat, Performance Consultant of RCB, said, “Cricket, and sport more generally, is evolving at such a pace and RCB wants to play a leading role in shaping what sports organisations and leaders do to achieve success, on and off the field.”
Leaders’ Managing Director, Laura McQueen, commented “India is an exciting and thriving market with endless opportunity.”
“RCB has enabled sustainability for the people, of the people, and by the people. Goodera is proud to partner with RCB since 2011 on the Go Green initiatives inspiring millions of passionate RCB fans to bring small changes in their daily life for planet earth”, said Abhishek Humbad, Founder and CEO of Goodera, the world’s leading volunteering platform and RCB’s sustainability impact partner.”
Fans throng for RCB Unbox
RCB returned to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after a gap of three years in the most remarkable of ways, the cracking RCB Unbox 2.0 for the fans. It is a celebration of the 12th man army, the loyal fan base of the RCB who could not experience a game day at the stadium for the past three years.
The fans were allowed to watch the full squad practice of RCB, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the T20, accompanied by RCB brand launches and the fans also witnessed the coming back of two cricketers who are now part of the RCB folklore — Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. They were inducted into the RCB Hall Of Fame and as a mark of respect, the RCB retired the jerseys of AB (17) and Chris Gayle (333) forever from its roster.
“It feels like a homecoming for me and it was a delight for me to reconnect with the team, the players and above all the fans. The RCB, RCB chant will always stay with me,” said Chris Gayle.
“It is a massively touching gesture by RCB to induct me into the Hall Of Fame and it has a very special place in my heart”, said AB De Villiers.
The stadium was packed to the rafters with live music beats by Sonu Nigam and Jason Derulo followed by the arrival of Virat Kohli, Faf Du Plessis, ABD and Chris Gayle were greeted with thundering cheers and the iconic chant — RCB, RCB.
“I am quite excited to welcome back fans to the stadium after 3 years. It was such an exhilarating experience to practice in front of some amazing fans as part of the RCB Unbox”, said RCB captain Faf du Plessis.