National Fast Food Day is November 16—offering a timely opportunity to spotlight the quick-serve restaurant (QSR) industry’s impact on the sponsorship landscape within US major pro sports. Here’s a snapshot of the leading players in each tasty subcategory—burger, chicken, pizza, and sandwich—and how they utilize high-profile partnerships to target broad audiences across the five leagues.

McDonald’s dominates the burger subcategory with more than 30 active sponsorships, followed by Wendy’s with more than 10. Burger brands invest heavily in both the NFL and MLB—each league has 31 QSR deals across its teams—while partnerships in the NHL number more than 20. In-game TV commercials and promotions top the list of emerging key assets for burger brands, providing dynamic visibility during games and engaging fans during key moments.

Chick-fil-A leads the chicken subcategory with more than 25 deals, eclipsing #2 Raising Cane’s, (which has five partnerships. MLB reigns supreme among chicken brands, with 25 of them buying sponsorship or media in the league, followed closely by the NFL with 23 deals. Unlike burger brands, which prioritize pro football and baseball, chicken brands allocate their sponsorships more evenly across the five leagues. A notable 63% of the chicken brands’ sponsorships include event content and activations—especially those that are entertainment-focused—signaling this subcategory’s preference for enhancing fan experiences with unique content.

Turning to pizza, Little Caesars ranks #1 with nearly 15 deals, trailed by #2 Papa John’s with 10 deals. MLB tops the league list again, with 30 pizza brands buying sponsorship or media, while the NFL, NHL, and MLS are each home to more than 10 partnerships. There are currently just two pizza sponsorships in the NBA—offering a big opportunity for savvy brands to market their pies to pro basketball fans. Pizza brands often engage audiences through high-visibility signage and digital activations, capitalizing on the communal appeal of pizza in sports settings.

Finally, Jersey Mike’s takes top honors in the sandwich subcategory with 15 deals, while Subway and Penn Station East Coast Subs share the #2 spot with four partnerships each. MLB and the NHL attract the most investment from sandwich brands, with 30 and 15 deals, respectively. Rotating TV-visible signage ranks as sandwich brands’ preferred asset, with 52% of deals incorporating this high-profile feature.

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