McDonald’s Park? The wildest stadium naming deals in sports
The Chicago Fire will call their new stadium “McDonald’s Park” when it opens in 2028. Here are some of the most awkward stadium names based on brands.
Chicago Fire FC announced this week that its new $750 million stadium, set to open in 2028, will be called McDonald’s Park as part of a naming-rights deal with McDonald’s.
The Chicago Fire’s new stadium has a name: McDonald’s Park.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) May 13, 2026
This is the first time the fast food giant becomes a naming-rights partner for a major professional sports stadium in the U.S.
Yes, there will be a permanent McDonald’s restaurant at the stadiumhttps://t.co/ilsMqMd7qX
And just like that, one of the most recognizable brands on earth is now attached to one of the most visible trends in modern sports - the increasingly wild world of stadium naming rights.
The rise of awkward stadium names
“McDonald’s Park” feels a little ridiculous, but it’s far from alone. Over the past decade, teams across leagues have leaned hard into corporate partnerships, producing names that range from slick to straight-up confusing.
- Crypto.com Arena – formerly Staples Center, now a Web3-era rebrand
- Smoothie King Center – yes, named after the smoothie chain
- Guaranteed Rate Field – often cited as one of the most awkward names in sports
- T-Mobile Arena – a cleaner, more brand-forward success story
Naming rights are big business, often worth hundreds of millions of dollars over time.
Why MLS is leaning all the way in
Major League Soccer is in the middle of a stadium boom, with clubs investing heavily in new, soccer-specific venues. Here are some examples:
- Chicago Fire FC – McDonald’s Park (2028)
- Inter Miami CF – new stadium project underway
- New York City FC – Etihad Park opening in 2027
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 coming to North America, teams want modern venues, new revenue streams, and global brand partnerships to match the sport’s rising profile in the U.S.
On one hand, McDonald’s Park is a perfect match, a global brand with deep Chicago roots partnering with a club trying to reestablish itself in a major market. On the other, it makes one wonder at what point does branding overpower identity?
Traditionalists still prefer classic names. But for teams and leagues chasing growth, deals like this are hard to pass up. Like it or not, stadium names in America are no longer just about geography or history, but visibility, revenue, and cultural relevance. So...welcome to Mickey-D’s Park.
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