New Chicago stadium lands $195bn franchise deal in historic first with unique perk
The Chicago Fire scored a massive boost with a historic McDonald’s partnership.
A state-of-the-art $750-million stadium is set to open in time for the 2028 MLS season with room for 22,000 fans.
It has been officially unveiled as McDonald’s Park in the latest set of renderings from the team.
McDonald’s is breaking new ground having never come on board as a naming-rights partner for a U.S. sports franchise.
As part of the deal, the stadium will house a permanent flagship location of the $195 billion fast food giant.
“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,” Fire owner Joe Mansueto said in a statement. “That’s why 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.”
The venue in Chicago’s riverfront South Loop neighborhood is set to host other sporting events and gigs as well as soccer.
From 2027, McDonald’s will be the presenting partner of the Fire’s P.L.A.Y.S. Program — a soccer-based curriculum featured in 70 public schools in the Windy City.
Ronald McDonald House will fund other charitable programs as part of a wide-reaching pantership.
“Together, we are creating more than a stadium,” McDonald’s chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski added. “We are building a place that serves up joy, brings together community, delivers impact, and is designed to serve generations to come.”
Soldier Field — the Fire’s current home — is facing an uncertain future.
The Chicago Bears are also moving out, with locations in Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana, on the cards.
Chicago Park District leader Carlos Ramirez-Rosa has not given up on keeping the NFL franchise at it’s historic lakefront home.
“Ultimately, we’re with the mayor. We hope the Bears will stay in Chicago, that we can find a way to keep the Bears in Chicago. If the Bears decide they want to go to Arlington Heights or Indiana, we need to find a way to make sure Soldier Field remains viable,” he told NBC5 Chicago.
The alternative is the spend a massive $630 million turning the ancient arena into a world-class entertainment venue.
“It’s time for new audiovisual. Also, if the Bears leave, we have to rework the back of the house spaces they use for their offices, their locker rooms,” he added. “$500 million of the $630 million is for ingress and egress, improving the ways that people get in and out of Soldier Field, making it easier for people to enjoy concerts there.”
Losing the Bears would allow for more concerts to be held at Soldier Field — currently the oldest stadium in the NFL — and bring in much-needed funds for the city.
“Soldier Field is a public asset, and so we want to make sure we’re taking care of that asset because it generates major revenue,” Ramirez-Rosa explained. “It creates good jobs. It’s an engine for the local tourism economy.
“Ultimately, we want to keep the Bears in Chicago, but we have to be prepared for any circumstance that may occur.”
MLS’ new stadium boom
The Fire’s new HQ will be in good company, with Inter Miami dropping $1 billion on Nu Stadium.
New York City FC and New England Revolution are also creating soccer-specific homes.
McDonald’s Park may have a new neighbor one day with the Chicago White Sox looking at a site nearby.
Stay up to date with MLS across all our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
