Converged network will fuel an exceptional fan journey and set a new standard for stadium connectivity

CHICAGO, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Chicago Fire FC builds a marquee home for Chicago at McDonald’s Park, the Club is committed to delivering an exceptional fan experience while establishing a new standard across Major League Soccer (MLS) for operational excellence. To help realize this vision, Chicago Fire FC has chosen Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), MLS’s trusted supplier, to design and deploy a future-ready converged network across one of the league’s most anticipated new venues.

Scheduled to open in 2028, McDonald’s Park is slated to be a year-round entertainment destination and the primary anchor of “The 78” mega-development in Chicago’s South Loop.

Goyo Perez, Chief Partnership Officer, Chicago Fire FC said: “As we prepare McDonald’s Park to become a new landmark for the city, having the right connectivity partner will be critical in delivering a world-class experience. We are confident that we’re in the best hands with Boldyn Networks, who brings the expertise and innovation needed to elevate our new stadium.”

Jason Caliento, Chief Commercial Officer, U.S., Boldyn Networks, said: “Chicago is one of the most important sports and entertainment markets in the United States and the continued growth of soccer here demands a venue built for the future. Boldyn is proud to partner with Chicago Fire FC to deliver a digital foundation that supports modern fans, operational and commercial needs. Our work across MLS venues reflects the league’s confidence in Boldyn as a trusted DAS connectivity supplier.”

The news comes as the league prepares for the MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime on July 29 in Charlotte, and as soccer continues its rapid growth across the U.S. driven by rising attendance to venues and momentum from the recent FIFA World Cup 2026.

Chris Schlosser, Senior Vice President, Emerging Ventures, MLS, said: “Our relationship with Boldyn Networks is based on a long history of collaborating around the opening of new stadiums, which includes Nu Stadium, the new home of Inter Miami CF, BMO Stadium in LA which plays host to LAFC, and New York City FC’s upcoming stadium Etihad Park which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2027. Boldyn brings significant experience in delivering future-ready DAS connectivity that continues to drive both fan engagement and business outcomes across the new state of the art stadiums opening in MLS.”

Boldyn’s high-performance deployment throughout McDonald’s Park includes:

Neutral host 5G distributed antenna system (DAS) supporting all major wireless carriers.High-density Wi-Fi across the seating bowl, suites, clubs, concourses, and outdoor gathering areas.Converged fiber backbone supporting venue connectivity, broadcast operations, security systems, and fan-facing digital services.Comprehensive architecture designed to support 5G, Wi-Fi 7, IoT, and emerging fan engagement technologies.Integrated network management delivering real-time visibility, performance monitoring, and operational reliability.

Turning infrastructure into a strategic business driver

The platform deployed by Boldyn will help enable new commercial opportunities and long-term value for Chicago Fire FC. Enhanced digital capabilities will support increased per-capita spending across concessions, merchandise, and premium experiences, while enabling new sponsorship and engagement prospects. Designed to provide a scalable digital connectivity foundation for more than a decade, Boldyn’s deployment will reduce technology obsolescence and support ongoing innovation, ensuring Chicago Fire FC’s new home remains at the forefront of the sport’s evolution.

About Chicago Fire Football Club
Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) is a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). One of the league’s first expansion teams — founded on Oct. 8, 1997 (the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire) — the Club has earned six major domestic trophies, including four U.S. Open Cups and the 2003 Supporters’ Shield, and returned to the playoffs in 2025, winning its first postseason match since 2009.

The Club recently began construction on its privately-funded, soccer-specific stadium, McDonald’s Park, in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, a transformational new home set to open in 2028. The team currently plays at historic Soldier Field and trains at Chicago’s Endeavor Health Performance Center, a $100 million state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2025.

The Club’s development pathway includes Chicago Fire II, which competes in MLS NEXT Pro, and the Chicago Fire Academy, featuring five teams from U-13 to U-18. Off the field, the Chicago Fire Foundation — internationally recognized, including as ESPN’s 2019 Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year — has made significant contributions to enhance the lives of disadvantaged youth throughout Chicagoland, providing more than $10 million back to the community. For more information, visit chicagofirefc.com.

About Boldyn Networks
Boldyn Networks designs, builds, and operates advanced network infrastructure where connectivity matters most. As the world’s leading neutral host provider, we enable mobile operators, large enterprises, and government agencies to create exceptional connected experiences no matter how complex the environment. From major transport systems, airports, stadiums, campuses, and military bases, to industrial hubs and smart cities, Boldyn brings 5G, fiber, Wi‑Fi, private 5G networks, and IoT together into tailored resilient, high‑performance platforms. Learn more at: www.boldyn.com

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The full service iLottery platform and related services underscores Aristocrat Interactive’s ability to assist leading Lotteries, to meet evolving player preferences and modernize their lottery offerings

LAS VEGAS, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lottery players in Massachusetts have an exciting, fun new way to play and engage with the lottery, now that a new full turnkey iLottery solution from Aristocrat Interactive under NeoGames, US, LLP is live.

Aristocrat Interactive is the #1 iLottery provider in North America and is now providing its custom-built solution for the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC). This includes a comprehensive, scalable platform, exclusive games from Aristocrat’s unparalleled IP library, an extensive portfolio of more than 20 eInstant games from NeoGames Studio™, and draw-based games, including two new games available exclusively online, giving players a wide variety of choices. 

In an industry first and as part of this launch, Massachusetts players will be the first to play an eInstant featuring Timberwolf ™, an Aristocrat land-based gaming favorite. This is a great example of how Aristocrat Interactive is combining its iLottery expertise with Aristocrat’s proven land-based brands and tailoring them to each Lottery’s objectives and adding to player engagement.

The MSLC is the leading per capita performing U.S. retail lottery and third worldwide. It will benefit from a suite of integrated technologies provided by Aristocrat Interactive including:

NeoSphere™: player account management platformNeoDraw™: draw games systemNeoCube™: Business Intelligence solutions; andNeoEngage™: Aristocrat Interactive’s overall customer and data experience solution

As part of the tailored solution, Aristocrat Interactive will deliver its market-leading Fusion™ aggregation platform for third-party game content, responsible gameplay solutions, and managed services including marketing such as CRM efforts and promotions, data analytics, compliance and customer support.

Mark William Bracken, Massachusetts State Lottery Executive Director said, “Today marks an important step forward in modernizing our operations and launching an exciting new iLottery offering that complements our industry-renowned retail program.

“We’re confident that our new iLottery program will elevate our player experience and allow us to further fulfil our mission of maximizing revenue returned to the Commonwealth, with online sales supporting early childhood education and care grants that will benefit families throughout Massachusetts,” he continued.

Dylan Slaney, Aristocrat Interactive Chief Executive Officer, said, “This is a milestone moment for Aristocrat Interactive, and the Massachusetts State Lottery as we deliver the first-ever online lottery offering for Massachusetts players.

“We are proud to be partnering with the Massachusetts State Lottery, who is widely recognized as a global lottery leader. Now with this new iLottery platform, plus our collection of world-leading iLottery game offerings, combined with pioneering marketing, and responsible gameplay solutions, the lottery is in a strong position to continue to deliver its charitable mission.

“Our iLottery solution, together with the broader Aristocrat Interactive ecosystem, creates unparalleled customer value inclusive of a full turnkey iLottery solution, which delivers several key advantages for our customers,” Slaney continued. 

The MSLC awarded its first iLottery contract to Aristocrat Interactive in August last year after a competitive RFP process. Under the contract, Aristocrat Interactive will provide services to the MSLC for five years, with three additional three-year extension opportunities.

Since being awarded the contract, Aristocrat Interactive has had employees on the ground in Massachusetts creating the custom solution that has now been deployed. Aristocrat Interactive has also invested in the region and recently established its iLottery headquarters in Quincy, MA and built a strong team of lottery specialists, including many dedicated to the MSLC iLottery program.

Aristocrat Interactive is the #1 iLottery provider by market share in the U.S.¹ This launch further underscores its position as a trusted partner for regulated jurisdictions seeking innovative, modern, and omnichannel iLottery solutions. It also builds on the company’s expanding North American footprint, which includes Michigan’s transition to a full Aristocrat Interactive turnkey solution this month, a recent one-year anniversary in New Hampshire, and an established presence in Alberta, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

¹ Eilers iLottery Tracker 1Q26 Report

About Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC)
Since selling its first ticket in 1972, the Mass Lottery has generated over $167 billion in revenues, awarded over $118 billion in prizes, returned over $35 billion in net profit to the Commonwealth for unrestricted local aid provided to cities and towns, and paid over $9.5 billion in commissions and bonuses to its statewide network of retailers. To learn more, visit https://www.masslottery.com/

Aristocrat Interactive
Aristocrat Interactive is Aristocrat Leisure Limited’s (ASX: ALL) regulated online Real Money Gaming (RMG) business and was formed in 2024 with the combination of Anaxi and the NeoGames businesses (NeoGames, Aspire Global, BtoBet, and Pariplay). With a commitment to responsible gameplay, the business delivers land-based gaming systems, content and technology solutions for online RMG, with a full-service offering that includes content, proprietary technology platforms and a range of value-added services across iLottery, iGaming, Online Sports Betting (OSB), and Customer Experience Solutions (CXS).

Aristocrat Interactive’s regulated gaming products are for use only in accordance with local laws and regulatory requirements. Aristocrat Interactive promotes Responsible Gameplay. Please visit https://www.aristocrat.com/responsible-gameplay/

Media contacts:

Elise Gare 
SVP, Global Communications & Brand, Aristocrat 
elise.gare@aristocrat.com

Paul Speirs-Hernandez 
Steinbeck Communications 
paul@steinbeckcommunications.com

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SOURCE Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.

NEWARK, Del., July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — According to Future Market Insights (FMI), the global photo printing and merchandise market is entering a steady growth phase as consumers increasingly seek personalized products that transform digital memories into tangible keepsakes. The market is valued at USD 26.4 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 42.1 billion by 2036, expanding at a 5.1% CAGR during the forecast period.

The market is being driven by rising smartphone photography, growing social media engagement, expanding e-commerce access, and increasing consumer preference for personalized gifting. Photo prints, photo books, calendars, cards, wall décor, customized apparel, and other merchandise continue to gain popularity for weddings, birthdays, festivals, holidays, and other important life events.

Digital printing technology is further supporting market growth by enabling faster production, flexible customization, and cost-effective short-run printing. Mobile-first platforms, intuitive design tools, and doorstep delivery are making personalized photo products more accessible to consumers across both developed and emerging markets.

Get detailed market forecasts, competitive benchmarking, and pricing trends: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1588 

Key Market Highlights:

Market Value (2026): USD 26.4 BillionMarket Forecast Value (2036): USD 42.1 BillionCAGR (2026–2036): 5.1%Leading Product Segment: Photo Prints (27.3%)Leading End User Segment: Individual Consumers (47.9%)Fastest-Growing Country: India (8.0% CAGR)Leading Companies: Shutterfly, Snapfish, Vistaprint, Mixbook, and Mpix

Why Is the Photo Printing and Merchandise Market Growing?

The photo printing and merchandise market is growing as consumers increasingly turn digital photos into personalized gifts, keepsakes, and décor. Smartphone photography, social media sharing, e-commerce platforms, and advances in digital printing continue to support market expansion.

Key growth drivers include:

Rising demand for personalized gifts and keepsakes.Growing smartphone photography and social media use.Expanding e-commerce and mobile ordering.Increasing popularity of photo books, calendars, and wall décor.Faster printing and improved product quality.Strong demand during celebrations and seasonal events.

Analyst Perspective

“The photo printing and merchandise market is evolving as consumers look for more meaningful ways to transform digital memories into physical products. Companies that combine easy-to-use customization tools, strong mobile integration, diverse product portfolios, and reliable fulfillment will be better positioned to capture long-term demand across mature and emerging markets.”
– Rahul Pandita, Market Research Analyst, Future Market Insights

Which Product Segment Leads the Photo Printing and Merchandise Market?

Photo Prints lead the market with approximately 27.3% of global demand. Their strong position is supported by widespread use in gifting, home décor, family memory preservation, and personal keepsakes.

Key Highlights:

Photo prints lead due to broad customization appeal.Strong demand comes from gifting and home decoration.Repeat purchases are linked to weddings, birthdays, holidays, and other occasions.Online ordering and fast delivery continue to improve accessibility.

Why Do Individual Consumers Dominate the Market?

Individual Consumers represent the largest end-user segment, accounting for approximately 47.9% of global demand. Personal gifting, family albums, wall displays, and customized keepsakes remain major drivers of consumer purchases.

Social media platforms encourage users to convert digital images into physical products, while user-friendly design tools make customization easier. Doorstep delivery and mobile ordering further strengthen customer engagement and repeat purchases.

What Are the Key Market Dynamics?

Market Drivers

Rising demand for personalized products, smartphone photography, online commerce, and meaningful gifting continues to drive market growth. Photo prints, books, calendars, wall décor, and customized merchandise remain popular for celebrations, family milestones, and home decoration.

Emerging Market Trends

Digital printing, mobile-first ordering, AI-powered design tools, and social media-integrated e-commerce are transforming the customer experience. Companies are expanding into photo books, wall art, apparel, drinkware, cards, and other personalized products.

Market Constraints

Pricing pressure, logistics complexity, equipment costs, and intense online competition remain key challenges. Future growth will depend on efficient production, reliable fulfillment, strong digital integration, and the ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences.

Access the Complete Report in PDF Format: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/brochure/rep-gb-1588 

Regional Outlook

The photo printing and merchandise market is expanding across developed and emerging economies. South Asia is expected to record the strongest growth, supported by rising disposable incomes, mobile-first commerce, expanding e-commerce access, and strong gifting cultures.

North America maintains stable demand due to mature online retail infrastructure, premium photo products, and established consumer awareness. Europe records moderate expansion as consumers continue to value high-quality photo books, framed prints, personalized cards, and durable keepsakes.

Country Growth Snapshot

India Leads Global Growth
India is projected to register the fastest growth at an 8.0% CAGR through 2036. Strong gifting traditions surrounding weddings, festivals, and family milestones support demand for photo books, calendars, wall décor, and customized gifts.
Smartphone penetration, affordable mobile data, expanding e-commerce platforms, and rising disposable incomes are helping personalized photo printing reach consumers beyond major cities.China Shows Strong Growth Potential
China is expected to expand at a 6.0% CAGR, supported by a young consumer base, strong mobile commerce adoption, and growing demand for personalized products during festivals and family celebrations.United States Maintains Stable Expansion
The United States is projected to grow at a 4.0% CAGR. Photo books, framed prints, calendars, and customized gifts remain popular for holidays, family events, and home décor.Germany Records Steady Demand
Germany is expected to grow at a 4.0% CAGR, supported by demand for premium-quality photo books, framed prints, and durable keepsake products.United Kingdom Shows Moderate Growth
The United Kingdom is projected to expand at a 3.8% CAGR. Demand remains focused on personalized cards, invitations, seasonal gifts, and customized merchandise.

What Does the Competitive Landscape Look Like?

The photo printing and merchandise market remains moderately fragmented, with competition focused on product variety, customization, print quality, digital platforms, and fulfillment efficiency. Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Vistaprint lead through broad product portfolios, while Mixbook, Mpix, Printique, and Blurb focus on premium and professional-quality products. Zazzle and Redbubble compete in customized merchandise, while Nations Photo Lab specializes in professional-grade printing.

Leading companies are investing in mobile integration, personalized design tools, faster fulfillment, and expanded product categories to strengthen customer engagement.

Leading Companies

ShutterflySnapfishVistaprintMixbookMpixPrintiqueBlurbZazzleRedbubbleNations Photo Lab

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the current size of the photo printing and merchandise market?

The market is valued at USD 26.4 billion in 2026.

2. What will the market be worth by 2036?

The market is projected to reach USD 42.1 billion by 2036.

3. What is the expected CAGR?

The market is forecast to grow at a 5.1% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

4. Which product segment leads the market?

Photo Prints lead the market with approximately 27.3% of global demand.

5. Which country is expected to grow fastest?

India is projected to be the fastest-growing major market, expanding at an 8.0% CAGR through 2036.

6. Who are the leading companies?

Key players include Shutterfly, Snapfish, Vistaprint, Mixbook, Mpix, Printique, Blurb, Zazzle, Redbubble, and Nations Photo Lab.

Explore In-Depth Consumer Product Industry Insights: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/industry-analysis/consumer-product 

FMI Custom Research: Strategic Intelligence for Confident Decision-Making 

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, leadership teams need more than market data—they need clear, actionable intelligence tailored to their strategic objectives. FMI’s Custom Research solutions are designed around the specific business questions organizations need answered, enabling executives to evaluate growth opportunities, validate investments, assess competitive dynamics, and reduce uncertainty before making critical decisions. By combining deep industry expertise, primary research, and proprietary market intelligence, FMI delivers insights that help organizations move from assumptions to evidence-based strategies with greater speed and confidence.

Key Executive Benefits 

Decision-Ready Insights: Research tailored to your specific business challenges, growth plans, and investment priorities. Reduced Strategic Risk: Validate market opportunities, customer demand, and competitive positioning before committing resources.Market Entry Confidence: Assess opportunity size, regulatory barriers, channel dynamics, and competitive landscapes with precision. Competitive Advantage: Gain proprietary intelligence unavailable through syndicated reports or internal datasets. Faster Growth Decisions: Accelerate expansion, product development, portfolio optimization, and investment planning. Primary Market Validation: Access real-world customer, buyer, and stakeholder insights that support high-confidence decision-making. Global Industry Expertise: Powered by 100+ analysts, 20,000+ published reports, and 1.6 million+ hours of research experience.Proven Track Record: Over 7,000 market-entry engagements completed across six regions and 14 industry sectors with strong client retention.

Business Impact

FMI helps organizations transform market complexity into strategic clarity, enabling leadership teams to identify growth opportunities faster, optimize resource allocation, strengthen competitive positioning, and make high-stakes business decisions with confidence.

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Weight Training Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/weight-training-market Home Care Services Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/home-care-services-market Demand for Online Clothing Rental in United Kingdom: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/united-kingdom-online-clothing-rental-market Online Clothing Rental Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/online-clothing-rental-market Musical Instrument Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/musical-instruments-market 

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers actionable, decision-focused market intelligence that goes beyond traditional research reports. The company provides: 

In-depth pricing and cost benchmarking analysisDemand forecasting based on real industry inputsProcurement and buyer behavior insights Supply chain and trade flow intelligence Technology adoption trends across industries

FMI follows a robust bottom-up research methodology, combining insights from industry experts, procurement leaders, and technical professionals to ensure accurate and practical market intelligence.

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SOURCE Future Market Insights