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McDonald’s have announced the first stadium naming rights partnership in the company’s history after agreeing a major deal with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
The club’s new stadium is set to open in 2028 and will now officially be known as ‘McDonald’s Park'.
Chicago Fire’s new stadium to be named McDonald’s Park from 2028
The Chicago Fire and fast-food giant McDonald’s confirmed the long-term partnership on Wednesday, with the new 22,000-seater stadium set to become one of the flagship venues in MLS.
Located in Chicago’s South Loop neighbourhood, the privately-funded $750 million (£555 million) development will replace Soldier Field as the Fire’s permanent home and is expected to host concerts and other large-scale events alongside football matches.
As part of the agreement, the stadium will include a permanent McDonald’s restaurant, while the wider partnership also stretches into community and youth initiatives across the city.
Beginning in 2027, McDonald’s will become the presenting partner of the club’s P.L.A.Y.S. programme, which operates football-based education schemes in dozens of Chicago public schools.
Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto described the agreement as the “perfect partnership”, citing McDonald’s deep roots within the city. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski added that the project was about creating “more than a stadium”.
Financial terms of the naming rights agreement have not been disclosed.
The stadium joins a growing wave of major MLS infrastructure projects, including Inter Miami’s recently opened ‘Nu Stadium' and New York City FC’s Etihad Park, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
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FGG says: McDonald’s stadium partnership signals a surprising first for the company
It genuinely feels surprising that McDonald’s have never done this before.
For a company of McDonald’s global scale and visibility, you would expect them to have dipped into stadium naming rights long ago, especially in the US, where corporate partnerships are part of the sporting landscape.
That’s what makes this deal such a notable moment. It is the first time the fast‑food giant has ever put its name on a major sports venue in America.
At the same time, it makes perfect sense that this milestone has arrived in MLS. Modern stadium projects in the league are increasingly built around entertainment districts, commercial partnerships and a variety of activity rather than just football.
These venues are designed to be year-round destinations, not just matchday arenas, which aligns neatly with McDonald’s brand strategy and community‑focused messaging.
It also reflects the rapid commercial growth of MLS itself – as the league expands, and new stadiums become more ambitious, the appeal for global brands becomes harder to ignore.