Chicago is kicking the tires on a new money-making move that could splash corporate logos across some of the city’s most visible public spaces: O’Hare and Midway airports. The Department of Aviation has quietly put the word out to see whether companies would pay to brand parking lots, shuttle buses, elevators and EV chargers as the airports gear up for major construction. Officials say any proceeds would stay within the airport system rather than flow into the city’s general fund.
Department of Aviation's pitch
The city’s aviation department has issued a request for information to test the market for sponsorships or naming rights on a wide range of airport assets, from parking areas to charging stations. The RFI is essentially a temperature check on what firms might pay and how packages could be structured, according to Crain's Chicago Business.
Why now - big expansions and tightening budgets
The timing lines up with a sweeping overhaul at O’Hare, where plans are advancing for new satellite concourses and a rebuilt Terminal 2 to boost international capacity as construction and concession plans move ahead, according to the Chicago Sun‑Times. It also arrives in the middle of budget fights at City Hall that have featured proposals to sell advertising on light poles and other public assets to help fill gaps, per WTTW News.
How much could it matter?
Non‑aeronautical revenue already makes up a sizable chunk of the airports’ finances, with Midway getting roughly 30% of its budget from those sources and O’Hare nearly one quarter. Officials say expanding sponsorships could help ease pressure on airline fees. Aviation Commissioner Mike McMurray has pushed the city to find new non‑aeronautical revenue streams to keep aeronautical costs competitive, though he has stopped short of naming a specific target for sponsorship income, according to Crain's Chicago Business.
Legal limits: what revenue can be used for
There is a legal catch: federal law generally requires airport revenues to be spent on airport capital or operating costs, or on activities directly tied to air transportation. Diverting funds elsewhere can put federal grants at risk and invite penalties. The FAA’s revenue‑use guidance and related federal rules spell out that any sponsorship proceeds would have to stay devoted to airport purposes, according to Federal Register guidance.
What's next - politics and process
The RFI itself does not force the city to sign any deals, but it does signal that officials are seriously testing the waters. Moving to actual agreements would likely require formal procurement steps and a turn in front of the City Council. The notion of corporate naming and branding across airport facilities is almost certain to stir debate among aldermen and community groups who are skeptical of further commercializing public space, and the broader budget battles at City Hall show just how charged new revenue ideas can become, per WTTW News.
For now, the city is collecting feedback and weighing whether brand dollars can help pay for big airport projects without crossing federal rules or alienating the flying public. If companies bite, Chicago could soon be fielding bids to slap private names on everything from shuttle fleets to EV chargers at its two major airports.
