World's Cities Battle For Place on Global Monopoly Board

Spiegel Online ^ | January 23, 2008 | Staff

[forkinsocket]

The manufacturers of Monopoly have launched a competition between 68 world cities in a bid to find 22 cities for a new global version of the board game. Cities across the world are urging residents to vote early and vote often to make sure their home towns get on the board.

Forget a seat on the United Nations Security Council. The place where the citizens of the world can really play with the big boys is actually within reach: a place on the new global Monopoly board.

The makers of Monopoly, Parker Brothers, are hoping to stir up world voting fever by launching a month-long competition for inclusion on the first ever World Monopoly board.

In a development reminiscent of Willy Wonka's competition in the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," many cities are already taking the bait, launching big campaigns to get their cities on the board.

The competition was launched on Tuesday in Times Square, New York, with Rachel Hunter, a model and former wife of Rod Stewart, among the first to cast a vote. She opted for Queenstown in her native New Zealand, as well as London and Sydney. Miss Universe Riyo Mori and Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz also did the honors at the ceremony.

Voters can go to the Monopoly.com Web site and place up to 10 bids a day for different cities, choosing from a shortlist of 68, nominated by 2,000 travel writers. The 20 cities that get the most votes will automatically earn a spot on the board, with the number one in the ranking getting the most expensive spot, traditionally Mayfair in the UK version and Boardwalk in the United States.

[forkinsocket]

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[agere_contra]

It should cost 4 quadrillion dollars to buy a house on the New Orleans spot.

[shuckmaster]

I vote Detroit in place of Baltic Ave.

[KarlInOhio]

Harare, Zimbabwe, for Mediterranean Avenue.

[1rudeboy]

North Korea or Belarus could be Jail.