The Tropicana, one of the last remnants of Las Vegas’ mafia-controlled 1950s Rat Pack era, is set to be imploded in the early hours of Wednesday, Oct. 9, according to its current owners. This demolition will include what remains of the casino icon’s already gutted pair of 22-story hotel towers.
The Tropicana, which opened on April 4, 1957 and closed on April 2, 2024, will be demolished ostensibly to make way for a baseball stadium for the relocated Oakland A’s.
Until the news broke today via several local media outlets, it was believed that Bally’s Corp. would keep the date secret to prevent crowds from gathering for what has become an unfortunate Las Vegas ritual since the ’90s. Instead, Bally’s is planning an event that sounds more like a celebration. On the night of Oct. 8, Bally’s will stage a “commemorative event” featuring a drone and fireworks show from Fireworks by Grucci. This event will conclude with the implosion at 2:30 a.m. the next day.
Directed by Controlled Demolition Inc., the Phoenix, Md.-based company with a legacy of demolishing iconic structures such as the Dunes in 1993, the Landmark in 1995, the Sands in 1996, the Aladdin in 1998, the Desert Inn in 2001, the Stardust and Frontier in 2007, and the Riviera in 2015, the Tropicana implosion adds another milestone to their portfolio. Bally’s has obtained a permit to prepare for the implosion from Sept. 30 through Oct. 8. These demolitions are always conducted at night in Las Vegas to minimize traffic disruptions and mitigate the health impacts of dust and other possible issues.
Clark County’s approval is still needed for the implosion permit, with the deadline for approval set for a week before the event. Bally’s asserts that the Tropicana needs to be demolished to make room for a baseball stadium for the relocated Oakland Athletics on nine of the site’s 35 acres, along with a new casino resort on the remaining land. The stadium construction alone is expected to cost $1.5 billion and will take three years to complete. During this time, plans indicate that the A’s will spend three years in Sacramento.
However, skepticism remains among many Las Vegas insiders, including those from Anthony Curtis’ Las Vegas Advisor and Vital Vegas, about the likelihood of either project coming to fruition. Moreover, before any construction can begin, supposedly in April, the A’s will need approvals from Clark County and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on three additional agreements covering development, lease, and non-relocation. A fourth agreement on community benefits has already been approved.
