Organisers hope to promote the town
Boston is to get its own themed Monopoly game — but organisers have failed to secure investment from the local council.
Boston Big Local has been working with company Winning Moves to produce the game, which will be sold for £29.99 with all proceeds going to charities and community groups.
The game will feature newly-designed pieces representing different Boston’s history, including the Stump, a Puritan Hat, a Swan, a Medieval Cog, a Marathon Runner and a Tractor.
The chance and community chest cards have also been redesigned. Organisers said the game would “advertise the heritage and entertainment within the town”.
“The project […] will promote the town and boost tourism into the BTAC area, with people seeking out and visiting the locations on the board with the hope of visiting the businesses at the same time,” they said.
Locations around the board will be based on Boston locations.
A QR code on the box will direct buyers to a history website.
They said a similar board in Lincoln had seen success with around 2,600 sold in the first six months.
Representatives of Boston Big Local on Thursday appeared before Boston Town Area Committee to ask for investment towards the games — starting from £5,000 for 220 units up to £10,000 for 440 units.
In exchange they offered to feature BTAC’s logo on the box and the committee in all promotional pieces.
New pieces include The Stump, a Puritan Hat, a Swan, a Medieval Cog, a Marathon Runner and a Tractor.
Big Local has finances in place for 1,500 units and the pieces have already started being made, with the last minute-designs soon to go out.
Councillors were keen to indicate their support for the project in general.
Councillor Stephen Woodliffe said: “We need to do everything we can to promote Boston and this promotes the town.”
The chance and community chest cards have also been redesigned.
However, some councillors felt it was too late in coming to the committee with last-minute redesigns needed by the day after (Friday).
Members were put out when told that there were limits on the input they could have in the final product.
Councillor Brian Rush said: “I will not be investing in this, because I just think that the train stands against us, and I think there are other things that we could do that might be more beneficial to Boston.”
He said the pieces could be seen as a “little old fashioned”.
Councillor Martin Griggs added: “We have to justify our spent to tax payers and in the current climate if we said yes we’d take a bit of a kicking.”
More locations featured on the board.
Councillor Yvonne Stevens said: “You’ve got the cart before the horse by not getting your grant organised before placing the order.
“What you can do, you should do on your own back because I don’t like the way this is going at all.”
There were also concerns that a previous project by Big Local, which produced Boston Top Trumps cards, had sold 800 of a 1,000 print run – with some low sales blamed on the coronavirus lockdown coming in shortly after launch and moving sales online.
Councillors, however, could not agree whether to support or refuse the grant and instead voted to note the application.
The game is hoped to arrive ready for sale by September/October time.
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