May 14 – Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Chicago Fire have signed global fast-food chain McDonald’s as the inaugural naming rights partner of their new stadium, which is set to open in 2028.
The privately funded $750m venue will be known as McDonald’s Park and located in Chicago’s South Loop neighbourhood, at a riverfront site branded as The 78. Ground was broken on the facility in March. The deal marks McDonald’s first such naming rights partnership for a major US professional sports stadium.
The venue will hold a capacity of more than 22,000 for soccer matches and over 31,000 for other events, including concerts. As part of the partnership, McDonald’s will operate a permanent flagship restaurant on the premises, alongside what the parties describe as “immersive fan and culinary experiences” throughout the stadium.
McDonald’s will also serve as the presenting partner of the Fire’s youth soccer development program, while charitable affiliate Ronald McDonald House becomes the premier partner of the Chicago Fire Foundation, the club’s charitable arm. The foundation will be active in and around home matches.
The Fire currently play their home games at the historic Soldier Field and train at the $100 million Endeavor Health Performance Center, which opened last year.
The agreement adds to McDonald’s growing portfolio of soccer partnerships. The brand is currently the title sponsor of France’s top-tier Ligue 1 in a deal worth as much as €20 million ($21.7 million) annually, running through the 2026/27 season. McDonald’s is also a sponsor of Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at [email protected]