Can Naming Rights Help Illinois’ Financial Situation?

An idea popped into my skull years ago while living and working in a city that couldn’t pass a referendum on additional funds for local schools. The voters didn’t trust the school administrators to spend the money brought in on the students and in the classroom. After seeing this, I suggested that the local high school sell the naming rights to the gymnasium, the cafeteria, the football field, the library, etc. This was back in the 1990s and many people looked at me like I was crazy. The idea would’ve provided the school district new money without having to go back to the taxpayers.

Economy Parking at Chicago Midway Airport - brought to you by AbbVie?

Flash forward to 2026 and Chicago is looking to sell the naming rights to all manner of things at O’Hare and Midway Airports. By “all manner of things”, they are considering selling the naming rights to the parking lots, or specific levels. Why stop there? Sell the naming rights to the handicapped spots, or the 25 closest spots on each level – or the furthest away. The concourses, the lounges, all the way down to the trash cans – seriously. The water fountains, charging stations, pet areas, children’s areas, even the bathrooms are being contemplated for naming rights. Individual stalls, or urinals in the men’s room? If you express interest in purchasing the naming rights, I’m pretty sure they’ll listen.

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This isn’t unprecedented, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, and Palm Springs, CA. airports have all dipped their toes into the naming rights game. Other places have found the premise didn’t translate for their area. As always, the market for anything is what someone is willing to pay. As an Illinois resident I appreciate the attempt to find other avenues of revenue to pay for things that don’t include higher taxes.