Tampa Bay has passed GO with the launch of a brand-new Monopoly: Tampa Edition game. The big reveal took place March 12 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as a host of local dignitaries, media, and Mr. Monopoly himself, gathered to learn which attractions and landmarks secured a square on one of the world’s most popular game boards.
The Tampa Bay-inspired game, created by Top Trumps USA and licensed by Hasbro, blends the power of two iconic brands to a worldwide audience.
“We are honored to have Tampa Bay’s story shared by a company that has been an integral part of so many people’s lives for more than 85 years,” said Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay during the reveal event. “By customizing the game to include the authentic allure Tampa Bay is known for, we can inspire even more people to love the place we get to promote.”
Monopoly: Tampa Edition includes some of Tampa Bay’s cultural sites, historic landmarks, charitable organizations, and businesses on the game’s classic squares including:
Bayshore Blvd.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Curtis Hixon Park
Davis Islands Beach
Downtown Tampa
Gasparilla Pirate Fest
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa Riverwalk
The Florida Aquarium
The Tampa Bay History Center
The University of Tampa
TECO Line Streetcar
Ybor City
While the dog may be the most popular classic Monopoly token, Visit Tampa Bay has upped the ante by commissioning a new limited-edition token, based on its own iconic crossed keys and keyhole logo.
Monopoly: Tampa Edition is now available in select stores and online at select retail partners, including Visit Tampa Bay’s Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center, the Tampa Convention Center, the Tampa Bay History Center, and The University of Tampa.
A Monopoly on Popular Games
Monopoly first hit shelves in 1935, when Parker Brothers acquired the rights to it (Parker Brothers Games became part of Hasbro in 1991). In the decades since, an estimated one billion people in 114 countries have weighed the merits of buying up utilities and railroads or trying to hit it big with Boardwalk hotels—and now, premium real estate in Tampa.
The original 10 tokens were an iron, purse, lantern, racecar, thimble, shoe, top hat, battleship, cannon and a rocking horse. The wheelbarrow and scottie dog were added later.
However, during Women’s History Month, it’s worth noting that the game’s history can be traced back to 1903, when American anti-monopolist Lizzie Magie created a game called The Landlord’s Game and self-published it in 1906.
