theme_location variable and if statement

I am using Advanced Custom Fields plugin and it all works.

I am trying to have the person creating the page choose a custom menu through one of the fields and have that variable pass into the theme_location, but I cannot get it to work.

the theme works if it is hard coded as such

‘theme_location’ => ‘about’,
or
‘theme_location’ => ‘bicycles’,

none of the following worked.
‘theme_location’ => the_field(‘product_menu’);
‘theme_location’ => ‘the_field(‘product_menu’);’
‘theme_location’ => $variable, (yes the variable was pass via $variable = the_field(‘product_menu’) and the variable echos the correct value.
‘theme_location’ => ‘$variable’,

I even tried:

if ($variable == "about") {wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'about' ) );}
else if ($variable == "bicycle") {wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'bicycle') );}
else if ($variable == "shoes") {wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'shoes' ) );}

even tried this:

$v1 = "about";
$v2 = "bicycle";
$v3 = "shoes";
if ($variable == $v1) {wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'about' ) );}
else if ($variable == $v2) {wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'bicycle') );}
else if ($variable == $v3) {wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'shoes' ) );}

does not work, but the variables do, but the if statement is not recognizing anything.

what am I doing wrong???? [he asks while stands on the edge of a cliff]

it cannot be an ACF issue as the field is working… [he says under his breath]