Wichita will get an official version of Monopoly. But what spots will be on the board?
It’s not every day the mayor of Wichita gets to roll dice with Mr. Monopoly.
Top Trumps USA, who Hasbro licenses to create official city games of Monopoly, visited Wichita’s Exploration Place on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to announce Wichita as the next city to get an official Monopoly game. And yes, they even brought Mr. Monopoly, the game’s mascot.
“Sitting around a board game is a great way to have fun while growing our connections to others and bridging divides in this fast paced world of ‘Go,’” Mayor Lily Wu said during her remarks littered with Monopoly puns.
The first official Hasbro-licensed Wichita Monopoly game is set to hit the shelves in fall 2025, and you can help make sure Wichita’s favorite locations make the cut.
The game company is asking the public to submit Wichita spots they think should have a spot on the Monopoly board to wichita@toptrumps.com.
Some possible spots mentioned included Wichita State University, the Keeper of the Plains and Old Town.
“I’m probably going to recommend the Exploration Place, hoping we make the final cut,” Adam Smith, the president of the Exploration Place, said jokingly. “There’s lots of other great places in the community to look forward to seeing how this unfolds over the course of the year.”
Both Smith and Wu talked about the importance of play.
“Monopoly was founded in a time of unrest and divisiveness in our country, the game used the simple act of playing to bring people together, whether it’s tag on the playground, a friendly round of charades or a heated game of Monopoly,” Wu said. “Play isn’t just kids play, it’s the cornerstone of creativity, connection and even mental health.”
Wu said once the game is released, she plans to challenge the city council members to an official game, but said she calls dibs on the top hat or Scotty the dog, which she recommended be renamed “Toto” for the Wichita version.
While there is a Wichita Monopoly game that already exists, this is the first official one, said Josie Cole, a representative with Top Trumps.
Cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Tulsa and more have previously gotten official Monopoly games.
The first version of what became Monopoly was made by Elizabeth Magie in the early 1900s under “The Landlord’s Game.” However, it was Charles Brace Darrow who was credited for the creation of Monopoly when he made his own version after playing The Landlord’s Game at a party, according to History.com.
Darrow sold the game rights to the Parker Brothers in 1935 and was credited as the creator before Magie’s role was revealed to the public during a legal battle when a college professor filed a lawsuit after trying to create an “Anti-Monopoly.”
