IPL 2025 Advertising Playbook: Why OOH is the Ultimate Game-Changer

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to gear up for its 18th edition. All the matches have been scheduled from March 22 to May 25, 2025. The Indian Premier League is not just cricket, but more like a celebration of entertainment, fandom and massive marketing opportunities. With millions of eyeballs glued to screens and stadiums packed to capacity, IPL is a golden ticket for brands looking to amplify their visibility. 

But how do you make your brand stand out in a sea of digital noise? The answer lies in Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising—the ultimate game-changer in the IPL advertising playbook. Many brands and agencies out there are realizing the imperativeness of cricket tourism. Today, brands want to capitalize on Out of Home advertising to be their medium of choice.

Welcome to the IPL 2025 Advertising Playbook, where OOH isn’t just a tactic; it’s the ultimate game-changer. In this blog, we will be discussing how IPL has now evolved from a cricketing event into a cultural phenomenon. After all, today, the IPL advertising battlefield has changed. It’s no longer about who spends the most but who plays the smartest. So, let’s dive in and understand advertising in IPL​ in a better way.

Why is IPL Advertising Bigger Than Ever in 2025? 

Cricket and IPL are synonymous with passion in India. Every year, brands scramble to leverage this cricketing spectacle, but IPL 2025 is set to break all previous records. As the league evolves, so do consumer expectations. Traditional IPL advertisements are no longer enough—you need high-impact, memorable campaigns, and that’s where OOH advertising makes a power play. But what convinces the brand to choose OOH advertising in IPL? What gains do they get? Let’s discuss them below. 

• Building Brand Awareness 

The majority of the brands view IPL as an amazing opportunity to boost brand recognition among a vast and diverse audience. We can’t deny the fact that IPL’s reach is extensive with millions of viewers not just on the television and digital platforms but also outside the home at the stadiums or sports centres. This makes IPL advertisement 2025 an ideal environment for establishing or reinforcing brand presence. 

• Launching New Products or Campaigns 

Another significant reason to choose advertising in IPL is because it’s the ideal time to kick-start fresh campaigns. The league’s high engagement levels provide a platform to gain maximum exposure during crucial phases of product launches. Many brands have launched their fresh line of products and services during the IPL season to gain maximum exposure. 

• Increasing Sales & Lead Generation 

Brands also leverage the IPL season advertisements to boost sales and generate high-quality leads. IPL season brings increased consumer spending and an increase in brand engagement. This presents a great opportunity for advertisers to convert those viewers into active customers. While the primary objective of brands in the IPL season is to create brand awareness there’s no harm in using it to enjoy robust leads with performance marketing campaigns. 

• Strengthens Brand Loyalty 

You might not know but several agencies and companies also see IPL advertising as a valuable channel to deepen brand loyalty. It helps brands strengthen relationships with their customers by associating their brand with teams, players or IPL narratives. With this strategy, companies can seek emotional connections with their target audiences and enjoy customer retention and loyalty. 

• Gaining Competitive Advantage 

Finally, some companies target IPL advertising, particularly to outperform their rivals. Strategically placed advertisements can assist brands in assertively and clearly setting themselves apart from their competitors in the market, especially during the IPL season when visibility is strong and competition is fierce. 

What Makes OOH Advertising a Game-Changer During IPL 2025?

• Dynamic And Versatile Platform For Unlimited Brand Visibility 

One of the major reasons why OOH advertising has always been the ultimate choice of advertisers is because of its dynamic and versatile nature. With these advertising mediums brands can utilize travel brands and sporting events to engage and target their audiences more effectively. 

With cricket fever gripping the nation, fans are constantly on the move—commuting to stadiums, and watching matches in pubs, malls, and fan parks. Outdoor IPL advertisements are strategically placed to capture these audiences everywhere they go, keeping your brand top-of-mind.

• Non-skippable 24X7 Exposure With Innovative Messaging 

Unlike digital ads that can be skipped, blocked, or ignored, OOH ads offer continuous, unmissable exposure. During IPL, when attention spans are short and screen space is cluttered, OOH cuts through the noise with larger-than-life visuals and constant presence.

Moreover, with the increase in demand for DOOH, out-of-home advertising has become more innovative. It allows for targeted and creative messaging which influences consumer behavior and builds better brand engagement and interaction with customers. 

• Localized and Relevant Campaigns For Maximum Impact 

We know how IPL matches are conducted in multiple cities. This is where outdoor advertising steps in and allows you to hyper-target your campaigns. Whether you are a brand based out in Kolkata or Mumbai, if you have a stadium in your city this means you can target and customize creatives to connect with the regional fan base. 

You can also work on creatives that allow for tailored experiences for specific audiences based on your location for maximum exposure. Imagine exclusive player endorsements on hoardings near their home stadiums or dynamic messaging that changes with match schedules.

• Improved Multi-Channel Strategies 

Advertisers have to understand that OOH advertising doesn’t work in isolation. It will become more impactful when you integrate it with other digital and social media campaigns. When you combine different channels, it helps you create a seamless and immersive experience which engages audiences both online and offline.

Additionally, Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) displays in high-traffic areas like malls and airports offer dynamic opportunities for fan engagement through real-time content, interactive experiences, and live social feeds. OOH acts as a powerful real-world trigger that drives online interaction. 

• Massive Footfall Near Stadiums = Prime Real Estate for Ads

Massive footfall near stadiums during events like the IPL turns these areas into prime real estate for advertising. With thousands of enthusiastic fans gathering before and after matches, the surroundings of stadiums become vibrant marketing hotspots. Brands can capitalize on this energy and excitement through a variety of high-impact activations.

Ambient media strategically placed around entry and exit points keeps the brand message front and centre. This approach for IPL advertisement 2025 guarantees high visibility at a time when fans are most engaged, delivering maximum impact for advertisers looking to connect with their audience at the moment.

Essential Tips for Planning an Impactful IPL OOH Campaign

Competition in the IPL is intense not just on the field but also in the advertising space. Especially when it comes to outdoor IPL advertising, you need to leave a mark during this competitive season and that can only happen with smart planning. Here are some essential tips to help you craft an IPL OOH campaign that stands out, drives engagement, and maximizes your brand visibility.

1. Choose High-Footfall Locations Strategically

Target areas with massive crowd gatherings—stadiums, fan parks, airports, and transit routes. These spots guarantee maximum visibility when fan excitement is at its peak.

2. Sync Your OOH with Digital Campaigns

Leverage technology by integrating QR codes, geo-targeted ads, and social media activations. This bridges offline engagement with online interactions, amplifying your campaign’s reach.

3. Opt for Dynamic and Interactive Formats

Go beyond static hoardings. Utilize LED vans, DOOH screens, branded shuttle services, and experiential zones to create memorable brand experiences that fans love to engage with.

4. Time It Right for Maximum Impact

Plan your campaign rollout to coincide with match days, peak traffic hours, and pre/post-match gatherings. Timing is everything when you want to capture attention at the right moment. This will also help you capture maximum engagement at lower ipl advertisement cost​.

5. Focus on Creative, Cricket-Themed Messaging

Customize your creatives to tap into the IPL fever. Play on team rivalries, cricket lingo, and fan sentiments to make your brand part of the conversation and connect emotionally with the audience.

IPL 2025 OOH Advertising Trends To Watch For 

Now that we have discussed the IPL advertisement landscape for OOH media,  it’s time we discuss the ways we can evolve our strategies and strengthen this traditional advertising medium. So, here are some of the hottest trends and ipl advertising strategy​ points shaping the future of IPL OOH advertising.

1. Sustainability & Green Advertising

As environmental consciousness rises, brands shift towards sustainable OOH IPL advertising solutions, especially during high-profile events like the IPL. From EV (electric vehicle) cab branding to solar-powered billboards, advertisers embrace eco-friendly formats that reduce carbon footprints while maintaining high visibility.

Using recyclable and biodegradable materials for hoardings, banners, and installations not only minimizes waste but also aligns brands with the values of today’s eco-conscious consumers. Green advertising isn’t just a trend—it’s a statement that reflects a brand’s commitment to responsible marketing, which can enhance reputation and consumer trust during mass events like the IPL.

2. Interactive Digital OOH (DOOH)

Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) is transforming the spectator experience by offering dynamic, real-time content that engages fans on the move. During IPL matches, DOOH screens can display live scores, highlight reels, and even feature real-time fan tweets and messages, creating a sense of community and excitement. 

Some brands are also experimenting with AR (Augmented Reality) filters and gamified experiences, allowing fans to interact directly with the displays via their smartphones. These interactive DOOH formats don’t just capture attention—they create memorable moments that drive both offline and online engagement, making the brand experience more immersive and impactful.

3. Influencer + OOH Collaborations

In the IPL season, the lines between online influence and offline visibility are getting blurred. Brands are increasingly collaborating with influencers to extend their campaigns beyond social media. Imagine popular influencers sharing behind-the-scenes content from branded OOH installations, or hosting live sessions from locations where their digital presence appears alongside OOH ads.

These collaborations amplify reach by tapping into the influencer’s engaged following while adding a personal, relatable touch to OOH campaigns. The result is a seamless integration of influencer marketing and outdoor media that boosts credibility, engagement, and recall—especially among younger, digitally savvy audiences.

Final Words! 

IPL 2025 is more than cricket—it’s an advertising phenomenon, and OOH media is your MVP. It is the ultimate playground for the brands to showcase their creativity and strategy.  While others stay limited to screens, you can take your brand to the streets, the stadiums, and the skies. By integrating the right outdoor advertising mediums with the latest trends in the advertising industry, brands can turn IPL into a game-changing marketing opportunity. 

Ready to play big? Let CASHurDRIVE craft your winning OOH strategy for IPL 2025. With a rich portfolio of planning amazing OOH campaigns for many IPL teams, we know what it takes to turn the Indian premier league into an ROI-driven marketing opportunity. Moreover, our pan-India presence ensures your brand hits the right audience at the right time, whether it’s Mumbai’s Wankhede or Chennai’s Chepauk. Get in touch with our team today!