A chance to snap up St James' Park for £350 could well have Geordies rushing to make a new addition to their Christmas gift list following the unveiling of a new local edition of Monopoly in the city centre this Tuesday morning.
The home of Newcastle United is a top attraction of a special Newcastle and Gateshead edition of the much-loved game which also has the iconic Tyne Bridge occupying the board's famous top square. Along with its whole host of other local references, the new version of Monopoly will no doubt have huge appeal to North East shoppers in its well-timed launch in the run-up to Christmas.
When news of a Newcastle and Gateshead version of Monopoly was first announced earlier in the year, members of the public were invited to send in suggestions of places they thought should have a starring role. The result sees more than 30 local landmarks and organisations in all make an appearance on the board and Tuesday's 'big reveal', on the same day as the game hits shop shelves, was was out to make a huge impact with its props of a 'life-size' board and giant money at a launch hosted at Utilita Arena which also features on the board.
There has been a local version of the traditional London-set game before, in 1999, but this is long since discontinued. At that time The Glasshouse - then Sage Gateshead - was in the top-ranking space, originally taken by Mayfair in the classic version.
“This time it’s Newcastle’s turn to take the top spot," said John Keen-Tomlinson, custom games executive at the board-makers Winning Moves UK. “This is a new board for a new generation.”
He called the public response to the initial idea "beyond our most optimistic expectations", saying: "We would like to thank everyone who suggested landmarks and the wording for the cards.” He added: “We have been wonderfully spoilt with choices when putting this Monopoly board together.
"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 famous game, first on sale in 1935 and since played by families around the world, has had various incarnations over the years and the latest version references the area's heritage and shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities. Players can also spot the likes of local money business True Potential and - following a nominations process earlier in the year - the charities St Oswald’s Hospice, The Alan Shearer Foundation and Newcastle Cat & Dog Shelter.
These appear in the board's Community Chest spaces and available cards will lavish money on players, enabling a shopping spree in Northumberland Street. Other landmarks to feature include Grey's Monument - at the 'Old Kent Road’ end of the board - and The Glasshouse. Stephen Patterson, chief executive of NE1 Ltd which represents around 1,400 Newcastle businesses, said: “We are delighted that our fabulous city has been immortalised in such an iconic game as Monopoly.
"We can’t wait to see which were chosen to appear on the board and to roll the dice for our first game." The Monopoly: Newcastle & Gateshead Edition is on sale from 10am this Tuesday from Waterstones and WHSmith as well as online, including on Amazon.
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