WOODLAND HILLS : Chamber to Make a Game of Business

The Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce has caught the Monopoly craze and plans to create its own version of the game.

“We’re doing this to generate an awareness of the various businesses that are within the community and to give each business an opportunity to have their name on a game that is a fun activity that can be enjoyed,” said Daniel L. Romey, the chamber’s first vice president.

Woodland Hills is one of several Southern California communities to manufacture its own home-spun version of the famous game. Chatsworth, Sherman Oaks and Westlake Village have already their own versions, as do Beverly Hills, Moorpark, Malibu, Santa Barbara and other communities.

“Woodlandopoly . . . will be Woodland Hills’ very own board game,” reads a letter from chamber President Michael J. Miller in a pitch to area businesses.

“Your business name will be called 20 to 30 times, every time the game is played, for years and years to come, by thousands of players all over our local area,” Miller said.

For a fee, businesses can buy a space in the game, which will be manufactured after all of the spaces have been bought, Romey said.

“But there are only 50 spaces, so it is limited,” he said. “It’s on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Once the games are produced, they will be available in major department stores, said Romey, an attorney who is in charge of special events for the chamber. The group hopes to get the game on the market before Christmas.

The rules are similar to Monopoly, but enough changes have been made that Monopoly’s maker, Parker Brothers, cannot claim trademark infringement, said Dan Siegel of Hometown Games, which is marketing the game for Woodland Hills.