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Grand Central is about to become the one place in New York where landing on Atlantic Avenue might be a good thing. From October 2–4, a life-sized Monopoly gameboard will take over Vanderbilt Hall, giving commuters and visitors a chance to roll oversized dice, walk the board and try their luck without arguing over who gets to be the little silver dog.
The free pop-up comes from Visit Atlantic City, whose hometown supplied the street names on the classic American Monopoly board. The walkable installation will feature spaces devoted to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, casino resorts, restaurants, entertainment and arts scene, along with destination-themed game pieces.
There will be photo opportunities throughout the board and Mr. Monopoly is scheduled to appear in person (or, at least, in top hat and mustache). Visitors can also enter giveaways and compete for Atlantic City-themed prizes, including merchandise and saltwater taffy. One bag of taffy will contain a golden piece and, according to the organizers, the first player to find it wins an Atlantic City Grand Prize Getaway Package.
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“After an enthusiastic response to the activation’s debut at Union Station, we’re excited to bring this experience to Grand Central Terminal,” said Gary Musich, president and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. He described the pop-up as a preview of the destination’s dining, live entertainment and attractions, which are just over two hours from New York City by car.
Of course, this version of Monopoly sounds considerably more forgiving than the one that turns a pleasant game night into a three-hour dispute over house rules. The organizers describe an interactive experience with dice and board spaces, though they haven’t yet shared details about how turns or prizes will work. Additional event information is expected closer to opening day.
The Monopoly pop-up runs October 2 through October 4, from 10am to 7pm in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. Admission is free.