Travel fintech platform, Scapia, has extended its partnership with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as an official partner for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), reinforcing the growing convergence between financial services brands and experience-led sports marketing.
The renewal marks the second consecutive season of collaboration between Scapia and RCB, with the partnership continuing to focus on premium fan engagement initiatives that move beyond traditional sponsorship visibility. The agreement is structured around access-driven activations designed to bring supporters closer to the team through curated matchday and travel-linked experiences.
At the centre of the partnership is Scapia Royal Entourage, the brand’s flagship fan experience programme, which offers selected fans behind-the-scenes access to the RCB ecosystem. The initiative includes premium hospitality experiences, exclusive matchday access, curated interactions and travel-linked rewards aligned with Scapia’s loyalty proposition.
Anil Goteti, Founder & CEO, Scapia, said, “It’s great to be partnering with RCB – the defending champions once again. Last year, we got the chance to offer our cardholders an experience that made them feel like they were truly part of the game. The energy around it was incredible. This year, we’re looking forward to making it even more fun and electric for fans.”
Rajesh V Menon, CEO, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, added, “At RCB, our fans are at the heart of everything we do. Our partnership with Scapia brings them closer to the team and enhances the matchday experience. Initiatives like these create lasting memories and celebrate the passion that defines RCB.”
As part of the activation strategy, Scapia will also introduce “The Game is Yours”, a fan engagement campaign designed to provide supporters access to experiences typically reserved for insiders. A key element of the campaign is Scapia Supershot, an interactive activity where participants compete in teams of two on a live leaderboard, with top-ranked participants unlocking exclusive rewards and experiences.
The partnership reflects a broader shift within the sports sponsorship ecosystem, where brands are increasingly prioritising experiential marketing, community engagement and lifestyle integration. By leveraging RCB’s strong digital presence and highly engaged fanbase, Scapia aims to deepen consumer relationships through reward-based interactions that connect sport, travel and financial services.
RCB continues to be one of the most commercially attractive properties within the IPL, consistently drawing interest from global and domestic brands due to its scale of fan engagement and market visibility. The franchise has further strengthened its commercial portfolio ahead of the 2026 season through partnerships with brands including KT Professional and Magicrete, underlining sustained sponsor confidence in the team’s market appeal.
On the sporting front, RCB will enter the 2026 campaign as defending champions, with a squad featuring Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, alongside Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The team is scheduled to begin its title defence at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28.
As sponsorship models continue to evolve, the Scapia–RCB partnership highlights how brands are increasingly using sport as a platform to build long-term consumer ecosystems centred around access, loyalty and personalised experiences. With fan engagement becoming a primary driver of commercial value, the 2026 IPL season is expected to see further innovation in how brands activate partnerships to create deeper and more measurable connections with audiences.
