The IPL or the Indian Premier League is not just about a cricket game anymore. It is a huge event that takes place every year that people all around the country and its neighbouring countries love to watch. But ever wondered what is so special about the event? Well a big part of it is the sponsorships by different brands and rest is just a matter of recreation. These sponsorships come from the companies that pay to have their brand shown during the cricket matches.
Over the time these sponsorships have become more crucial and intense with their approach. The brands are getting better every year at finding ways to stand out. They are not just being shown during the matches in the backgrounds or the ads, they have also taken over the jerseys and the shoes of the players to get people talking about them even more.
In this blog we will take you through the dominance of Brand Sponsorship and their dominance in IPL through player jerseys.
The Indian Premier League since the year it started in 2008 has changed into a profitable platform for the brands to present their products and services. With many viewers stuck to their screen at the time of the matches, the reach of these brands are unmatched. From the old advertisements during the match to innovative jersey sponsorships, the brands and their marketing teams are leaving no stone unturned to increase their impact and visibility.
But why do these sponsorships matter ? Well because these brands fund the IPL which means that it funds for a betterment of the stadiums, better players and a better experience for the audiences. Additionally they even bring the extra views because the viewers are curious about the brands they see on the jerseys.
Earlier the brand sponsorships primarily consisted of the billboards across the fields of the cricket and the commercials aired during the match broadcasts. However, as the matches and the tournaments speed up, the sponsors start exploring creative ways and avenues to gather audience’s attention. This has led to the evolution of jersey sponsorships as primary ad space.
The brands and the companies started making impactful and strategic partnerships with the individual teams involved in the game, capitalising on the devotion and love and fan base affiliated with each team.
These strategic sponsorships and collaborations not only let the brands and the company feature their logos prominently on the team's jerseys but also have allowed them to interact with the diehard fans through multiple advertising the activities both on and off the pitch.
As the technology has advanced and has come a long way in every field, brands are speeding up their visibility in the Indian Premier League. They are seen utilising the platforms like Instagram and Facebook and other interactive applications and platforms to generate campaigns and offer smooth augmented reality experiences as a standard method to instantly interact with the cricket lovers and craft incredible memories.
The sponsorships represented on the jerseys offer brands an unparalleled visibility throughout the match. Everytime a player puts on the jersey adorned with the logos of different brands and walks onto the field, it serves as a reminder of the brand’s presence to the audiences. Such repealed exposure to the brands significantly causes brand recall among them, thereby increasing the brand awareness and sympathy.
By obtaining the sponsorships on jerseys, the brands set themselves with the identity and the principles of the respective teams and create an image for them. This connection is more than mere advertising, it encourages an emotional bond with the fans who see the brand as an important part of the journey of their favourite team.
The popularity of IPL is far beyond the borders of the country with a substantial International viewership as the team consists of players across the globe. The jersey sponsorships offer the brands a global platform to present their products and services to attract a diverse audience.
This worldwide reach and impact not only scales the brand’s market presence and visibility but also contributes highly in maintaining cross-cultural connections that further enhances the value and recognition of the brand but now on a wider scale.
The supremacy of the sponsorships by the brands through jersey coverage in the Indian Premier League shows the dynamic scenario of advertising in sports. As the brands constantly innovates and looks for new places to place their ads to connect with the consumers, sponsorships on the jerseys stand out as an unique tool for enhancing the brand engagement and visibility.