Mississauga Renames Paramount Fine Foods Center Amid Legal Dispute Over Naming Rights
The City of Mississauga has officially renamed the Paramount Fine Foods Center to the Mississauga Sports and Entertainment Center after claiming the restaurant chain failed to make payments owed under a naming rights agreement. The dispute has since escalated into competing lawsuits between the city and Paramount Fine Foods owner Mohamad Fakih.
City Terminates Naming Rights Agreement
In a news release issued on May 26, 2026, Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish announced that the city would terminate its contract with Paramount and rename the venue effective June 1. The city claimed that Paramount Fine Foods owed approximately $1.6 million from the July 2018 naming rights deal for Mississauga’s largest sports and entertainment facility.
City Files $9-Million Lawsuit Against Fakih Group
On Monday, the City of Mississauga filed a lawsuit against Fakih Group Inc. (FGI), formerly known as Paramount Franchise Inc., alleging violations of the naming rights agreement. The city is seeking $9 million in damages for breach of contract and conversion, claiming that FGI failed to fulfill its contractual obligations within one year of signing the original contract.
Fakih Calls Countersuit a “Political Ploy”
Fakih responded by calling the city’s lawsuit a “political ploy against a man who has spent over a decade investing in, giving to and serving this city.” He also alleged that Mayor Parrish had repeatedly violated confidentiality agreements, stating that details of the lawsuit were known to many people as of Saturday, before the city had even formally filed the suit.
Fakih Files Defamation Lawsuit Seeking $4.25 Million
Fakih filed his own defamation lawsuit against the City of Mississauga and Mayor Parrish on Friday, claiming the city publicly defamed him by making false statements about the money owed under the naming rights deal. He is seeking $3 million in damages for defamation, $750,000 in severe and punitive damages, and $500,000 in general damages for alleged breach of confidentiality obligations.
The defamation suit also alleges that the city and mayor’s public comments sparked a boycott of Fakih’s businesses and that he suffered “significant amounts of anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and related insults” as a result of the city’s statements.
Dispute Over Severance Package and Postdated Checks
The lawsuit further alleges that the city proposed a reduced severance package of approximately $1.2 million, plus taxes, to be paid in equal installments over 36 months. According to the filing, 36 postdated checks were delivered to the city on May 27. Fakih claims the city violated confidentiality agreements by publicly disclosing the amount of money owed.
Both Sides Prepare for Legal Battle
Fakih stated that his lawsuit against the city and mayor is a response to a continued pattern of misleading statements. “This lawsuit is a continuation of the same pattern. It is without merit and will be vigorously opposed. We will see the mayor in court and the residents of Mississauga will finally see the facts,” he said in a statement.
The City of Mississauga, for its part, said it is aware of Fakih’s lawsuit and believes it is “completely without merit and will respond in court in due course.” The city added, “As this matter is now before the courts, the mayor and city have no further comment at this time.”
The dispute marks a significant breakdown in the relationship between one of Mississauga’s most prominent business owners and the city’s municipal government, with both sides now preparing for a protracted legal battle.
