Naming Rights To Fairfax Schools Athletic Facilities Could Be Sold

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A proposal to pursue the sale of naming rights for Fairfax County Public Schools athletic facilities was unanimously approved the the school board at Thursday's meeting.

School board member Kyle McDaniel (at-large) made the motion to have the superintendent explore the idea of naming rights, which school board member Mateo Dunne (Mount Vernon) seconded.

During the meeting, McDaniel said the request is tied to School Board policy 8170, which he said was updated in October 2025, and is meant to put that policy to use as the school system looks for additional revenue.

“Pursuing naming rights is a very common approach for public school systems to generate revenue targeted to facility maintenance and improvement,” McDaniel said. “With a $400 million maintenance backlog, it’s important that we pursue all available resources to help ensure our students and community members are in facilities that meet our expectations. I am looking forward to hearing from the superintendent later this year, and working with community partners to see this proposal come to fruition."

Dunne also supported the effort in a post-meeting statement, saying, “I believe every student should have the opportunity to learn in safe and modern classrooms and facilities.” He added that FCPS could “partner with the private sector to invest in our school buildings and facilities.”

Several board members stressed that Thursday’s vote did not approve any naming rights deals. Dr. Ricardy Anderson (Mason) said she wanted clarity that the motion was only to bring back “a plan upon which the board will then respond and give feedback and then determine what the action moving forward could be.”

Board members also raised questions about how any future revenue would be handled. Anderson said she wanted the superintendent to consider “a collective pot rather some we know pyramid, local kind of fun,” and McDaniel said he would not support a model in which some schools or facilities receive better treatment than others.

The superintendent will present a proposal at a future school board work session, according to the meeting materials. McDaniel said the board would then review the proposal and consider action in July.