Mississauga is preparing to remove the Paramount Fine Foods name from its largest sports and entertainment venue after a sponsorship dispute between the city and the restaurant chain became public this week.
The city-owned facility at 5500 Rose Cherry Place will be temporarily renamed the Mississauga Sports and Entertainment Centre starting June 1, 2026. The change follows the cityâs decision to terminate its naming-rights and concession agreement with Paramount Fine Foods over what officials describe as unpaid contractual fees.
According to the City of Mississauga, Paramount Fine Foods owes about $1.6 million after allegedly failing to make required payments over an extended period. The city said it tried to resolve the matter through discussions but could not reach a settlement.
City officials said their next step is to pursue legal action to recover the money. In its public statement, the municipality said its priority is protecting taxpayer dollars, while stressing that programs, rentals, events and existing bookings will continue without interruption. More details were reported by CityNews Toronto.
For residents and eventgoers, the immediate change will mostly be visible in the name. Tickets, bookings and event materials that still mention Paramount Fine Foods Centre will remain valid, and the city says visitors should expect normal operations while signage and venue information are updated.
The facility is a major part of Mississaugaâs sports and entertainment scene. It is home to Raptors 905, the NBA G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, and also hosts concerts, tournaments, community events and large public gatherings.
Paramount founder disputes cityâs version
The cityâs announcement was quickly challenged by Paramount Fine Foods founder and president Mohamad Fakih, who said the public statement did not fairly reflect the talks between both sides.
Fakih said Paramount had been ready and willing to pay the city for more than six months and had been working with municipal staff on a negotiated end to the partnership. He argued that the company wanted a resolution that would protect Mississauga residents from carrying any financial burden.
He also said the decision to issue a public statement while discussions were ongoing was disappointing and described the cityâs account as one-sided. Fakih said Paramountâs involvement with the venue was never only about branding, but also about supporting the community.
The naming-rights deal began in 2018, when the former Hershey Centre was renamed Paramount Fine Foods Centre under a 10-year agreement. The building itself has long been one of Mississaugaâs best-known public venues, with a history tied to local sports, concerts and community programming.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish backed the cityâs position, saying discussions had gone on for months and that a reasonable conclusion could not be reached. The city has also confirmed it will take over food service operations at the venue as part of the transition.
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The dispute now leaves Mississauga with two immediate tasks: managing the venue under a temporary name and finding a new naming partner. For taxpayers, the larger issue is whether the city can recover the alleged $1.6 million without a long legal fight.
The case also shows the risk behind corporate naming-rights deals involving publicly owned facilities. These agreements can bring in revenue and help support local venues, but when payment disputes arise, they can quickly become public battles involving taxpayer money, business reputation and political accountability.
For now, the arenaâs schedule is expected to continue as planned. But the Paramount name, attached to the Mississauga venue for nearly eight years, is set to come down as the city moves ahead with a new identity and a possible legal claim.
Related: 300 Teachers Receive Layoff Notices in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon
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