What should be Boardwalk? Lexington to get custom edition Monopoly board game

Lexington is getting its own edition of the legendary board game Monopoly – and the company making it happen is asking for the public’s help in selecting which iconic landmarks and places to feature.

Monopoly Lexington will replace the classic board game’s Atlantic City squares from Boardwalk to Mediterranean Avenue with Lexington businesses, nonprofits and local landmarks. It will also include a custom Community Chest and Chance playing cards and money.

The game will be available to buy in July 2023, both online and in stores, including CVS and other retailers. The Monopoly Lexington game will retail for $39.99, according to a representative of the game’s maker, Top Trumps USA. The company is known for bringing customized, city-specific, versions of Monopoly under a license from Hasbro, according to a press release.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, currently running for a second term in office against challenger David Kloiber, said that locals may “have a hard time deciding what to include” to adequately showcase The Horse Capital of the World.

Gorton noted Lexington is the first Kentucky city to get its own edition of the 120-year-old board game which was originally known as “The Landlord’s Game.” Monopoly was conceived by progressive activist and feminist Lizzie Magie as “a practical demonstration of the present system of land-grabbing with all its usual outcomes and consequences.”

“There are so many great things about Lexington, with plenty of parks, sports teams, horse farms and distilleries, businesses, restaurants, breweries, more and more,” Gorton said during a press conference held Thursday on the steps of the city’s Historic Courthouse.

Tim Barney, a representative for Top Trumps USA, which is making the special Lexington edition, said people can submit their suggestions for which businesses and organizations should be on the board via email.

Public submissions and business inquiries should be emailed to lexington@toptrumps.com for consideration.

“I need to see what you guys want to see. To capture the essence of Lexington, it requires the people,” Barney told the public in a follow-up interview with local media.

Only a few people, businesses and organizations will ultimately be selected, Barney said. Roughly 20 spots on the board will be customized with Lexington details.

“Over the next eight weeks, we’ll be making our selections,” Barney told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Asked if the submissions will be put to a public vote, Barney said that will not be the case, but added that “we do utilize your guidance when we’re looking over the applications.”

In selecting Lexington, Barney cited the area’s world-renowned horse farms and bourbon distilleries as one key draw.

“I’m a Kentucky native myself, so when we were talking about which city we were going to go to next, I was like ‘Well, this is an obvious choice! Lexington’s amazing!’” Barney said.

Growing up in small-town Eastern Kentucky, Barney said Lexington holds a special place in his heart.

“Lexington was always the city I dreamt about coming to. Ever since I’ve been visiting here, you guys haven’t let me down … The people are wonderful. You have a lot of beautiful scenery and tons of attractions,” Barney said. “You have everything we want.”