Newcastle-Gateshead Monopoly officially launched
Move over Mayfair, it's all about the Tyne Bridge, St James' Park and more
The ‘Big Reveal’ of a brand-new MONOPOLY: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition game will see the Tyne Bridge land on the very top square and St James’ Park go up for sale for just £350.
The launch of the MONOPOLY: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition game takes place on Tuesday (12th November 2024), when Mr. Monopoly will roll out a GIANT version of the board to mark the launch of this 2024 version of the world’s most popular board game.
In 1999, there was a Newcastle and Gateshead MONOPOLY Edition. It was hugely popular back in the day, although it was discontinued many years ago. In that version, The Sage and Gateshead were on the top ranking. “This time it’s Newcastle’s turn to take the top spot,” explains John Keen-Tomlinson from the board’s makers, Winning Moves UK. “This is a new board for a new generation.”
When it was announced earlier this year that Newcastle and Gateshead are to ‘Pass GO’, the public was invited to send in suggestions for landmarks and organisations to star in the game. In all, 30+ local landmarks and organisations will be featured on the board, including major North East wealth management expert, True Potential.
“We have been wonderfully spoilt with choices when putting this MONOPOLY board together,” adds Mr. Keen-Tomlinson, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK. “We produce official MONOPOLY games based on places all over the world, including in recent years Palm Beach, Dubai, Phuket and The Hamptons. Now, Tyneside has joined the world’s MONOPOLY elite!”.
The board is themed in sets from heritage to shopping, leisure to entertainment – and lots more, all to reflect the vibrancy of the Tyneside locale.
Newcastle wealth management firm is delighted at the synergy the new game offers. Luke McGrath, Head of Marketing at True Potential, explains: “We are so proud to feature on this very special MONOPOLY board, cementing our role as an iconic Tyneside business. As experts in wealth management, savings and investments, in our eyes there is no better way to get families talking about financial literacy. For many people, MONOPOLY is their first encounter with the world of wealth management, and how many of us first learn about terms like ‘investment’.
“Our place on the MONOPOLY: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition game perfectly complements our ‘On the Money’ campaign, focusing on providing a solid financial education to young people while supporting local charities."
The charities that feature in the game, following a nominations process earlier in the year, are St Oswald’s Hospice, The Alan Shearer Foundation and Newcastle Cat & Dog Shelter. They each appear on each of the game’s three Community Chest spaces.
In addition to the bespoke squares, the Chance and Community Chest cards are customised too. One card lavishes MONOPOLY money on players, sending them on a shopping spree on Northumberland Street.
Mr. Keen-Tomlinson added: “The response from the public to the MONOPOLY: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition has been beyond our most optimistic expectations. We would like to thank everyone who suggested landmarks and the wording for the cards.”
Winning Moves UK, an official MONOPOLY maker, has produced the brand-new MONOPOLY: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition board game, under license from Hasbro, a leading toy and game company.
The MONOPOLY: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition hits the shops at 10am on Tuesday 12th November and will be available to purchase at Waterstones and WHSmith - as well as extensively online, including at Booghe.co.uk and Amazon.co.uk.
Featured on the board
● Tyne Bridge land on Mayfair from the classic London original MONOPOLY board.
● St. James’ Park, home of Newcastle United, grab Park Lane to complete - with Tyne Bridge - the top-ranking set of two. St James’ Park is up for grabs for just £350.
● Greys Monument featuring at the other end of the board - ‘Old Kent Road’. The makers of this game say the Grade 1 Listed building was gifted the board’s most affordable square on account of it being both “old” (it dates to 1838) and “high profile”.
● In-between, the board highlights the great and good of Newcastle and Gateshead from The Glasshouse to the Marina... and Haymarket to the Utilita Arena Newcastle.
● Local charities featuring on the board’s Community Chest spaces.