General News
2 May, 2025
Macca’s name anger
A DECISION to rename the home of soccer in Cairns to Macca’s Park has infuriated the community and Cairns Regional Council.
Football Queensland, on April 17, announced that McDonald’s would take on the naming rights of Endeavour Park at Manunda for two years.
However, the deal has angered the soccer community, as well as the council which has not been consulted about the name change of a public property.
Cr Anna Middleton, whose division 7 includes the park, told Cairns Local News that Football Queensland (FQ) did not realise the implications of changing the name of a public park.
“Endeavour Park is a council asset and the CEO (Ken Gouldthorp) has contacted Football Queensland (FQ) to resolve the matter,” she said.
“While McDonald’s is to be congratulated for supporting local sport, the re-naming has not been widely supported by the community.”
Cr Middleton said she had received more than 10 verbal complaints and other councillors had been contacted by soccer clubs in their patch about the name change.
She said any name change had to go through a formal process and FQ could be in breach of their lease arrangement with the council.
A council spokesman said the council “has not been consulted or approved any proposal to change the name of Endeavour Park” and had contacted Football Queensland about their decision.
“(The) council has reached out to Football Queensland to remind them that Endeavour Park is a council-controlled recreation reserve,” the spokesman said.
One parent, who has been involved in soccer for nearly 40 years, said Endeavour Park had always been known as the home of the sport in Cairns.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s always been known as Endeavour Park, and now they have sold the naming rights to McDonald’s,” the man, who asked not to be named for fear of being fined or being kicked out of the sport by FQ.
“Fast food is hardly healthy food for kids,” he said.
“That’s Football Queensland for you … they don’t care. They are destroying the sport in the Far North,” he said.
“They are silencing people on social media, blocking them if they say anything untoward.”
The father of soccer kids said no-one knew what was going on at the park.
He said charging parents $5 to watch their kids play the sport at the ground as well as the youngsters having no access to the clubhouse because it was being lived in by caretakers were other retrograde steps.
Terence Mack, on Facebook, said he believed the rebranding was not passed by the council and FQ might be in breach of their lease agreement.
“There might be a few angry councillors around who are not very happy with FQ’s approach on this,” he said.
Ruth Collins said on Facebook it must be a late April Fool’s joke.
“How insulting for a children’s park and the volunteers that promote children’s sport,” she said. Both Abigail Jamieson and Luke Tripovich said their comments on FQ’s Facebook page were deleted.
“What a stupid and immature response from FQ. Obviously healthy debates are out of their capabilities,” she said.
Mr Tripovich said it was “a disgrace”.
In the announcement, FQ said “as part of the partnership, McDonald’s will also support grassroots football by backing local clubs and celebrating junior participants across the region through the weekly MiniRoos player of the week voucher program”.
FQ northern conference general manager Craig Ramage said the rebranding marked a major boost for the game in the Far North and Gulf, reinforcing FQ’s strategic focus on strengthening regional football.
“The renaming of Endeavour Park to Macca’s Park is a powerful symbol of this partnership and our shared commitment to creating vibrant and welcoming regional football hubs that inspire the next generation of participants and bring communities together,” he said.
FQ was contacted to further explain the name change.
