Caerphilly’s Town Centres Join The Pokémon Craze!

Caerphilly’s town centres have joined the Pokémon craze, with the council’s Town Centre Management team encouraging people playing the new Pokémon Go game to visit their local town centre in order to find ‘Pokestops’ and ‘Pokémon Gyms’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The popular game which has become a global phenomenon, uses mapping technology to show players where they can find ‘Pokestops’ and ‘Pokémon Gyms’ at famous landmarks, churches, buildings and statues – making town centres great places for players to visit, both to play the game but to enjoy the town centre while they are there too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Town Centre Management team are also calling on local businesses to make use of the unique opportunity to engage with players who are using town centres to search for Pokémon! Shops located near ‘Pokestops’ could advertise this in their shop windows, and café owners could create space for players to sit and play the game (and even offer phone recharging facilities) and offer small discounts on refreshments to players. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With a new trading update due to be added to the game, the future promises even more opportunities for businesses to increase the time budding ‘Pokémon trainers’ spend in local town centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James said, “This is a fantastic way for people to explore their local town centres. I hope that businesses will really show their entrepreneurial spirit, and take this opportunity to engage with a whole new generation of customers”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council is keen to remind people that they should always ensure they play Pokémon Go safely, and pay particular attention to traffic. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​