Ipswich to 'Pass GO' with new Monopoly edition this Christmas

Why it matters: Ipswich outpaced rivals Norwich and eight other locations to secure its place on the board as Monopoly celebrates its 90th anniversary.

The details: The announcement took place at 10:00 this morning (Thursday, 27 February) at The Cornhill in Ipswich town centre.

Ben Ladd Gibbon from Winning Moves UK, Councillor Elango K. Elavalakan, Mayor of Ipswich, and Mr. Monopoly were present at the event, which features props including gigantic money, enlarged property cards, and top hats.

What they're saying: "Ipswich ticks every box," said Ben Ladd Gibbon, Custom Games Partnerships Manager at Winning Moves UK, who cited "Sense of Family" and "Civic Pride" as key factors in the selection process.

By the numbers:

• This marks Monopoly's 90th anniversary

• The game is played by over one billion players in 114 countries

• There are more than 300 culturally relevant editions worldwide

What's next: The public will be invited to suggest Ipswich landmarks and organisations to feature in the game, with popular nominations expected to include:

• Ipswich Waterfront

• Portman Road

• The Cornhill

• The Ancient House

Dig deeper: The board will be themed around heritage, tourism, entertainment, leisure, business, and travel – all reflecting Ipswich. Unlike the previous version, all three Community Chest squares will feature local charities.

How to participate: Nominations for landmarks and charities can be submitted by email to ipswich@winningmoves.co.uk from 10:00 on 27 February until 23:59 on 12 March 2025.

The bottom line: The new Monopoly: Ipswich Edition will hit shops in time for Christmas 2025.