The American fast food restaurant chain McDonald’s and the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Chicago Fire FC (US) have entered into a historic naming rights partnership that will see the club’s new $750 million privately-funded stadium named the McDonald’s Park.
The Chicago Fire FC’s new home is all set to open in 2028. Back in March, the MLS team broke ground on their privately-funded, soccer-specific stadium in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood.
The MLS team and McDonald’s above deal core is community impact.
‘MLS’ stated that located in The 78, a premier riverfront location in the heart of Chicago, the McDonald’s Park will serve as a world-class sports and entertainment destination that anchors year-round programming. The stadium will seat more than 22,000 fans for the soccer matches and will hold up to 31,000 for concerts and special events.
Chicago (US)-based McDonald’s Corporation, doing business as McDonald’s, is an American multinational fast food restaurant chain. As of 2024, it is the second-largest by number of locations in the world behind the Chinese chain Mixue Ice Cream and Tea.
The Chicago Fire FC is an American professional soccer club based in Chicago (US). The club competes in the Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference.
he 62,500-capacity Soldier Field (historically often referred to as the Soldiers’ Field) is a multipurpose stadium on the Near South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It serves as the digs of the Chicago Fire FC.
‘MLS’ further stated that the above naming rights partnership is a first for McDonald’s vis-à-vis a major professional sports stadium in the United States. McDonald’s will play an active role in shaping the experience at the McDonald’s Park – bringing together sport, food, culture, and community in a way that best mirrors Chicago.
Year-round Destination
The McDonald’s Park will be designed as a year-round destination and will feature – in addition to all the Chicago Fire FC home matches and concerts and special events – a permanent McDonald’s flagship restaurant, immersive fan and culinary experiences throughout the stadium and programming that brings the supporters back for concerts, cultural moments, community events, and celebrations all year long.
Chicago Factor
Maintained Joe Mansueto, Chicago Fire Owner and Chairman, “As we take the next step on our journey to build a world-class club our commitment to Chicago is at the center of everything we do. That’s why McDonald’s is the perfect partner – an iconic global brand with deep Chicago roots and shared values in supporting our community. The McDonald’s Park will be the stadium that Chicago deserves.”
Commented Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s Chairman and head honcho, “Together, we are creating more than a stadium. We are building a place that serves up joy, brings together the community, delivers impact, and is designed to serve generations to come.”
Youth Soccer Access
The above naming rights deal partnership core is a significant commitment to youth soccer access across Chicago.
Beginning in 2027, McDonald’s will serve as the presenting partner of the Chicago Fire FC’s P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) Program supporting a multiyear expansion of free, school-based soccer programming across the Chicago public schools – with a priority placed on elementary schools with limited access to the sport.
P.L.A.Y.S. focuses on strengthening the academic performance and social/emotional development through a soccer-based curriculum. Today, the program operates in 70 Chicago public schools. Through this partnership, McDonald’s and the Chicago Fire FC have committed to a phased expansion designed to remove barriers to play and dramatically increase access:
- Community Impact: Beginning in 2027, the partnership will remove equipment as a barrier to participation by delivering co-branded soccer starter kits – including balls, goals, cones, and training materials – to reach more than 280 under-resourced CPS elementary schools ensuring each school has the foundational tools needed to introduce and sustain soccer programming;
- By Stadium Opening (2028): The P.L.A.Y.S Program footprint will double expanding from 70 schools to approximately 140 schools (reaching more than 60,000 students, up from 31,000 today), providing free, structured after-school soccer programming that combines physical activity with social-emotional learning; and
- Long-term Vision: Over the life of the partnership McDonald’s and the Chicago Fire are committed to expanding P.L.A.Y.S. access to 100 percent of CPS elementary schools identified with elevated need – representing a four-fold increase in reach (from 70 to more than 280 schools, and from 31,000 to more than 125,000 students) and one of the most comprehensive free youth soccer initiatives in a major US city.
Community Impact Hub
The McDonald’s Park will serve as a hub for community impact extending far beyond the game.
Together, McDonald’s and the Fire will support hands-on initiatives addressing food insecurity including an annual meal packing and distribution effort hosted at the stadium – bringing together the employees, the players and the community volunteers to support the families in need.
Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House, premier partner of the Chicago Fire Foundation, will be a central charitable focus of the naming rights partnership with year-round integration across matchday and community platforms.
The key elements include:
- Stadium-wide round-up for the Ronald McDonald House donation opportunities across concessions;
- A dedicated Ronald McDonald House seating section at the McDonald’s Park for the families;
- Pre-match meet and greets and special experiences for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) families; and
- The annual family night featuring a 50/50 raffle benefiting the RMH and on-field recognition in support of the families navigating serious illness.
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