That’s... 'Very Important Player', as well as Person.
This VIP experience is being offered to one lucky person in the town to be the guest star at the official launch of the brand new MONOPOLY: Warrington Edition game, which is on Tuesday 25 October, during the school half-term holidays.
The date for the release of the game is being announced for the first time today, Friday 12 August 2022.
The board – which is set to feature key locations from around the town such as Walton Hall and Gardens, the Golden Gates, and the home of the Warrington Wolves, the Halliwell Jones Rugby Stadium, all of which are each tipped to feature prominently – is being officially launched at Walton Hall and Gardens on the same day it is released in shops.
The winner will get to be a VIP alongside the game brand’s icon, ‘Mr Monopoly’ and the Mayor of Warrington, at the launch event, as well as well as receive the very first board to roll off the presses.
How do you enter? Games’ bosses want to know in verse, poem, ditty or the like: ‘Why I love Warrington’. So that’s an easy ask then! Any written entry should have a maximum of 25 words.
“The most inventive and creative entry will win,” says Jennifer Lau, from the game’s makers, Winning Moves UK. “We are totally open-minded as to the form the entries should take, be they visual or in video form, or in whatever other creative form you can think of.”
The Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Jean Flaherty, says: “This is really exciting for the people of Warrington and it’s fantastic to know that we’ll be able to buy the Warrington edition of MONOPOLY from October. I can’t wait to see which landmarks and locations are featured on the board as part of this iconic game.
“Residents now have the chance to be a VIP for the day and to take part in the launch event. I look forward to hearing why people love Warrington and all about their special memories and favourite places across our town, and to meet the lucky winner on the day.”
At the time of the announcement – in March 2022 – that Warrington is to ‘Pass GO’ in time for this Christmas, the public were invited to send in suggestions for squares to fill the board and ideas for customised Chance and Community Chest cards. Polls have now closed. Ms Lau, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK – who are producing the board under official license from the MONOPOLY brand, owned by Hasbro – adds:
“A huge thank you to everyone who sent in suggestions. The response exceeded all our expectations. The most inventive and creative entry will win. We are totally open-minded as to the form the entries should take, be they visual or in video form or in whatever the creative form. As the launch of the game is during the October half-term holidays then we also invite teachers to consider setting artistic projects. Any such entries would be great. Anyone can be a VIP from 5 to 105 and beyond!”
In all 30+ Warrington landmarks and favourites are being showcased in the game. Over the last 25 years, Winning Moves UK has produced official versions of MONOPOLY... from Dubai to Dublin and Sydney to San Antonio. Now the dice are rolling upon Warrington.