Stratford-upon-Avon and Shrewsbury are absolutely “neck and neck" in a West Midland race to land their very own official MONOPOLY board, it is announced today .
Five West Midland locations are currently battling it out in “an extremely close fought competition" to land their own official MONOPOLY board for this year, reveal the makers of the board Winning Moves, who will be producing this special edition under official license from MONOPOLY owners Hasbro. Today they say Shrewsbury and Stratford-upon-Avon are leading the race to 'Pass GO'.
The makers have already said that should Stratford-upon-Avon or Warwick win in the 400th year of the world's most celebrated Bard then it won't so much be a MONOPOLY board as a MONOPOLY Bard!
William Shakespeare died 400 years ago on April 23rd – the playwright's most famous works include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew.
The 'Fab Five' shortlisted are:
Last month London games chiefs announced that one of these five will be guaranteed a customised board for later in the year.
Polls close at the end of this month, with an announcement of the winning city or town being made in the spring (2016).
So if either Shrewsbury or Stratford-upon-Avon were to win then maybe the following locations could feature on a customised board:
- SHREWSBURY CASTLE.
It's very old – so maybe Old Kent Road would be a good fit.
- SHREWSBURY FC.
This could land on Mayfair, the board's top position, as the club's shirt colours are similar to the Mayfair colour.
- STRATFORD RACECOURSE.
This could appear perhaps on a 'Chance' square.
The board will hit shop shelves this October and showcase 22 prized property landmarks from the winning location. Other features will see the four train stations from the London original being handed over to a 'travel' theme and many of the Chance and Community Chest playing cards customised. One, for example, could see players 'Sent to Coventry' if Warwick wins.
“But absolutely everything is up for grabs," says Natasha Rebuck, Custom Games Development Executive at Winning Moves UK, who are making this official version of MONOPOLY under license from MONOPOLY owners Hasbro.
“We originally began with a very big shortlist in the western half of the Midlands from Gloucester in the south to Telford in the north and west to near the Welsh border.
“We are delighted with these final 'Fab Five'."
Votes to: westmidlands@winningmoves.co.uk or by traditional postal 'snail mail' to WEST MIDLANDS MONOPOLY, Winning Moves UK, 7 Praed Street, London W2 1NP.
Polls close at midnight on 29th February.
An announcement of the winning location will be made in the spring (2016).
News release issued on behalf of 6 Star PR Ltd on behalf of Winning Moves Ltd.
