New Bristol Monopoly board faces backlash

Bristol’s first new Monopoly board in more than two decades has been criticised for excluding locations south of the river and the Memorial Stadium, Bristol Rovers’ football ground.

The new edition of the much-loved board game launched on Thursday with tiles depicting more than 30 Bristol landmarks from the Fleece to Clifton Suspension Bridge

However, some are disappointed to see only four of the squares are based in south Bristol despite it making up a third per cent of Bristol’s population. East Bristol has also been completely ignored.

In response to the upset, one creative social media use has designed what they call ‘Make Bristol Shit Again-opoly’, featuring Rice & Things, a ‘Bristol Underground’, Carol Vordeman, the Clean Air Zone, Thekla and Ribena:

https://twitter.com/iamhighlystrung/status/1722648326959456494?s=46&t=hGdFZSj6POcK8EvnsqyQKg

Former mayor George Ferguson wrote on Twitter, formerly X, he “won’t be playing this” due to its lack of south and east Bristol representation.

Rover fans have missed out with the Memorial Ground being left off of the board, although Bristol Manor Farm, who play in Sea Mills, and Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol City’s ground, do get a feature.

One X use wrote: “Even Monopoly know there’s only one team in Bristol!”

“Is that what it actually looks like?? That collage of Bristol landmarks and the OVO logo slapped together in the middle doesn’t make it look like a beautiful thing to own,” said artist Andy Council.

Another wrote: “Appears to be sponsored? Some very odd ones on there. Bristol Parkway isn’t even in Bristol – lots of other stations are that they could have used.”

Bristol Pride is included on the board for the first time – photo: Rob Browne

Speaking about the introduction of Bristol Pride on the board, director of the festival Darren Carter said: “When the first edition of Monopoly was around, there was no pride in Bristol and it’s great to be here to celebrate that today.”

The board also features three charities: The Grand Appeal, Empire Fighting Chance, and Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, as well as UWE Bristol and University of Bristol.

Bristol Uni’s social media officer Nura Alyah: “We’re really excited to see the university on the board as were a big part of the community. We hope our students, staff and wider community enjoy playing”

In response to the criticism levelled at Monopoly, John Keen-Tomlinson, custom games executive at Winning Moves UK, said: “We were guided by the public vote in many respects, but of course, we just aim to include a lot of community based stuff on top of that. I think that’s reflected by Imperial Sports Ground.”

“We’ve got Bristol Manor farm  on there who are a little bit more of a community-based football club and of course, we’ve got the three fantastic charities The Grand Appeal, Empire Fighting Crime, and Bristol Animal Rescue Centre as well.”

The new board is available to purchase at Waterstones, WHSmith, Ryman and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Clifton Suspension Bridge is Mayfair and College Green is Old Kent Road on the new Bristol Monopoly board – photo: Hasbro

Main photo: Aden Harris

Read next:

• New Bristol Monopoly board revealed
• What should be included on the new Bristol Monopoly?
• Acting lord mayor named as councillor remains in hospital

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