07/08/2023 - Town being honoured with its very own official MONOPOLY board
Luton continues on a roll - a MONOPOLY dice roll.
With Luton Town about to play in the Premier League for the very first time, the town is being immortalised with a Luton version of the world’s most popular board game.
The official MONOPOLY: Luton Edition board game follows the heroics of the football club which has caught the imagination of the nation .. and now MONOPOLY bosses. And it’s a double accolade as it is the first time anywhere in Bedfordshire has been honoured with its very own board.
It means Luton landmarks like its famous Airport and Wardown House will replace the likes of Mayfair and Park Lane from the classic MONOPOLY London original, with in all around 30 Luton landmarks getting to ‘Pass GO’ on the board.
Winning Moves UK are producing the game under license from global branded entertainment leader Hasbro, a toy and game company.
The board will feature exclusively Luton landmarks on the multi-coloured MONOPOLY property squares, with the public getting its say. Once the announcement has been made a public consultation process will formally begin. Expected to be heavily nominated to feature in the game are: the stunning Wardown House, Kenilworth Road, the Capability Green Fountains (maybe on Water Works or a green space), the Town Hall, the town’s international Carnival, the newly created Pocket Park, Hat Gardens with its iconic Flamingos - and many more.
The spirit, rules, tokens, money denomination and four corner squares (GO ; Jail ; Free Parking and Go To Jail) will remain as per the classic original. The rest of the game will be customised to Luton.
“The board will embrace Luton’s history and heritage,” says John Keen-Tomlinson, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK.
“The property sets will be themed in genres. From shopping to sport, hotels to leisure, charity to heritage - and more. There may even be a special hat set in recognition of Luton’s once thriving hat production. The tokens remain as the MONOPOLY original - for Luton that could mean arguments even before the game begins! That’s because the top hat will surely be a very popular choice amongst players and only player can choose it.
“The Chance and Community Chest cards will be Luton themed too. One may send players to Watford, which has not been honoured yet with its own MONOPOLY game, rather than the MONOPOLY jail. Another could see Luton winning first prize in football contest as opposed to the original beauty contest card. But it’s down to the public. They will be getting their say.
“The football club has captured the imagination of the country, including us. We have spent the summer since their stunning promotion, studying Luton landmarks to check there are enough – more than 30 – to fill this MONOPOLY board and do it justice.
“We are absolutely sure we will be spoiled for choices putting this game together.”
Cllr. Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, says: “We are honoured to have been selected for an official Luton version of MONOPOLY. We are proud of our rich heritage, historical landmarks and our cultural diversity and it will be great to see familiar and iconic places and buildings showcased in the game, along with some of the newer developments like Hat Gardens.
“Luton suffers from an unfair reputation at times and in the same way Luton’s town’s success has helped shift that narrative and promote the many positives about our town, we are hopeful that the Luton version of MONOPOLY will do the same and encourage more people to come visit and see what we have to offer.
“We’d love for people to get involved and have their say on what Luton places and landmarks they think should feature in the game and we are excited to see the final product.”
The board will hit the shops next spring 2024. But before it goes to production the public is being invited to suggest Luton landmarks and cards to feature in the game, by emailing: [email protected] Suggestions are invited from 00.01am on Friday 4th August until 23.59pm on 17th August 2023.