Did you know that one of the biggest pop culture event empires in Europe started because a fan simply wanted to see a life-size X-Wing?

Every great story has a beginning. For Monopoly Events, that beginning can be traced back to one lifelong Star Wars fan, one ambitious idea and a huge passion for creating unforgettable experiences.

It all started in 2015

Back in 2015, lifelong Star Wars fan Andy Kleek had a simple idea, to create the kind of convention he would want to visit himself.

But he wanted to go far beyond the traditional convention experience. Instead of simply filling a venue with trader tables, Andy wanted to create an immersive world where fans could step into the universes they loved. That vision led to the creation of For the Love of the Force.

To make it happen, Andy risked everything and invested in bringing incredible, full-scale props to life including a life-size X-Wing fighter and Jabba the Hutt’s palace.

A risk that paid off

The response was huge. Fans travelled to Manchester from all over the world, and the success of that first event proved that there was a huge appetite for immersive, fan-focused pop culture experiences.

What started as one fan’s passion project became the foundation of Monopoly Events. Since then, the company has grown into one of the UK’s leading pop culture event organizers, delivering some of Europe’s biggest Comic Cons, pop culture events and sci-fi conventions.

The passion continues

While the company has grown significantly since 2015, one thing has remained at its heart, the passion for fandom and creating incredible experiences for fans.

That passion for bringing fictional worlds to life also led to the creation of Monopoly Studios. Today, Monopoly Studios creates high-end props, installations and experiences for global brands, including Hot Wheels. From life-size movie and TV props to large-scale immersive experiences, the studio continues to turn ambitious ideas into reality.

From one fan to a pop culture empire

It is incredible to think that it all started with one fan who simply wanted to see a life-size X-Wing.

One fan. One crazy idea. One X-Wing. And from that came Monopoly Events, a growing pop culture event empire bringing fans together across the UK and Europe.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of madness… and a LOT of passion.