Once upon a time, sources say, real estate bigwigs gathered each year at the Morgan Library in Murray Hill for a friendly round of the board game Monopoly. The ritual was a nod to their profession, as well as to the library’s original owner, banking baron J.P. Morgan, who allegedly provided inspiration for the game’s “J.P. Money Bags” character.
Alas, those days are gone. Yesterday evening was the 20th annual “Monopoly Night,” hosted by New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. But these days the executives are too busy networking to play the actual game, and the likelihood that someone would spill a drink on a priceless manuscript too great. Nowadays, the execs merely mingle (and presumably think monopolistic thoughts).
While The Real Deal couldn’t even locate a (now merely symbolic) board, the surroundings – the opulent landmark library, study and manuscript room left by the Morgan family to the city in 1924 – remain suitably impressive. Brokers and managers from Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Cushman & Wakefield, BlackRock, Greystone and many others ponied up the $250 in hopes that fellow hotshots would engage in the children’s game.
Proceeds from the event will go to sponsor scholarships, academic programs and future events for NYU Schack.