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McDonald’s and Chicago Fire Football Club announced a naming rights partnership for the club’s new Major League Soccer stadium, a privately funded venue with a reported $750 million price tag. The stadium will be named McDonald’s Park and is scheduled to open in 2028 in The 78, a riverfront area in Chicago.
The agreement marks McDonald’s first-ever naming rights partnership for a major professional sports stadium in the United States. McDonald’s said it will be involved in shaping the fan experience at McDonald’s Park, including plans for a flagship restaurant and brand activations across the stadium and in-game moments.
McDonald’s Park is designed as a year-round sports and entertainment destination. In addition to Chicago Fire home matches, the venue will host concerts and special events throughout the year, supported by a permanent McDonald’s flagship restaurant, immersive fan and culinary experiences, and programming intended to draw visitors beyond matchdays.
“Together, we are creating more than a stadium,” said Chris Kempczinski, Chairman and CEO of McDonald’s. “We are building a place that serves up joy, brings together community, delivers impact, and is designed to serve generations to come.”
Joe Mansueto, Chicago Fire FC owner and chairman, said the partnership reflects the club’s commitment to Chicago. “McDonald’s is the perfect partner – an iconic global brand with deep Chicago roots and shared values in supporting our community. McDonald’s Park will be the stadium that Chicago deserves,” he said.
A central element of the partnership is an expansion of youth soccer access across Chicago through the Chicago Fire Foundation’s P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) program.
Beginning in 2027, McDonald’s will serve as the presenting partner of P.L.A.Y.S., supporting a multiyear expansion of free, school-based soccer programming across Chicago Public Schools, with priority for elementary schools with limited access to the sport.
Today, P.L.A.Y.S. operates in 70 Chicago Public Schools. Under the partnership, McDonald’s and Chicago Fire committed to a phased expansion aimed at removing barriers to participation and increasing access:
McDonald’s Park is also positioned as a hub for community initiatives beyond games. The partnership includes hands-on efforts addressing food insecurity, including an annual meal-packing and distribution effort hosted at the stadium with employees, players, and community volunteers supporting families in need.
Ronald McDonald House, a premier partner of the Chicago Fire Foundation, will be a central charitable focus of the partnership, with year-round integration across matchday and community platforms. Elements include:
Located along the Chicago River at The 78, the stadium is described as a centerpiece of a mixed-use neighborhood and a catalyst for continued economic development and job opportunities in the South Loop. The riverfront site will include public plazas, activated outdoor spaces, and connectivity to surrounding retail and residential development.
The stadium is planned to seat more than 22,000 fans for soccer matches and up to 31,000 for concerts and special events. The venue is described as designed to deliver sightlines and entertainment experiences, with a range of seating options intended to create a home atmosphere for Chicago Fire fans and eventgoers.
Beyond Fire matches, McDonald’s Park is expected to host a variety of events, including international soccer, rugby, concerts, festivals, trade shows, and corporate conferences.
Chicago Fire Football Club competes in Major League Soccer. Founded on Oct. 8, 1997, the club has won six major domestic trophies, including four U.S. Open Cups and the 2003 Supporters’ Shield, and returned to the playoffs in 2025, winning its first postseason match since 2009.
McDonald’s said it is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer, with over 45,000 locations in more than 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners.
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