GAME ON: Salford City College Group join SALFORD MONOPOLY

13 October 2021

An official Salford version of the world’s most popular and famous family gaming brand has hit the shops this morning and we’re delighted to announce that it features us.

The new game sees the very best of Salford’s landmarks ‘Pass GO’. From MediaCity - which gets to land on the game’s most prestigious square – to Ordsall Hall, the University of Salford and both of the city’s professional rugby league and football clubs, there are many sites to see around the board. And we get to star in the game too, featuring on the prestigious green squares.

In all, more than 30 Salford landmarks and charities ‘Pass GO’.

“We have been wonderfully spoilt for choice putting this great game together,” says Afolabi Omotola, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK, who are the makers of the board under official license from Hasbro.

Paul Dennett, the elected City Mayor of Salford, adds: “We’re delighted to see Salford get the global recognition it deserves in this way.”

He added: “MONOPOLY: City of Salford Edition game squares span our long and proud history, from Ordsall Hall built 750 years ago to the ultra-modern and still expanding MediaCity, which is home to the largest cluster of digital and technology companies outside London. The board also shows the real heart of Salford - our people - through local charities, Salford Lads Club and two of our great sports teams also being featured.

Several charities get to feature in the game as well, following a public vote. They include START, whose Charity Director Michelle Dennett says : “We feel extremely privileged to have been chosen by our community to be represented on the MONOPOLY game board.” START, which was formed in 1993, delivers a range of mental health services to help improve people’s wellbeing and increase confidence and self-esteem through harnessing the power of creative and positive activities.  Ms Dennett adds: “This is a huge boost for all our staff, members and volunteers who like many have been through so much recently.”

The makers have largely themed the famous MONOPOLY multi-coloured property sets around different genres. From heritage to shopping and culture to sport. The four train stations from the London original game each take on a ‘travel’ theme, as Salford doesn’t have four main line train stations to select from.

The very recently re-branded MediaCity - formerly MediaCityUK up to last month (September) - gets to land on the top ranked square. It replaces glitzy Mayfair from the game’s classic London original.    

And here is how the new game works: Whilst the rules, money denomination, playing tokens and above all the spirit of the MONOPOLY game stay the same, all the property spaces become Salford landmarks. Chance and Community Chest cards are customised too. One rewards players with enough money for a shopping spree at Quayside. Whilst another fines players for littering at the historic Clifton Country Park.

The board is available now at Asda, Ryman, Selfridges, Waterstones, The Works and WH Smith – as well as extensively online, including on Amazon.