Las Vegas Says Farewell to Tropicana Casino to Make Way For New A’s Stadium

The Tropicana, an iconic hotel-casino which debuted in Las Vegas in 1957, was imploded in the early morning hours Wednesday to make room for the new MLB stadium of the Athletics, formerly of Oakland, California.

The Tropicana was Las Vegas’ first implosion in almost a decade

Nicknamed the “Tiffany of the Strip” for its grandeur, the resort made a name for itself through its entertainment offerings, and the property stood for nearly 70 years on the Strip.

More than 2,000 pounds of explosives brought down the Tropicana’s Paradise Tower and Club Tower in approximately seconds. It was Las Vegas’ first implosion in nearly a decade.

The send-off included a 555-drone and fireworks display timed to songs from Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Drones created images of the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and the Athletics logo.

“Let’s not think of it as an ending, but as the beginning of something even greater,” Arik Knowles, general manager and vice president of hospitality at the Tropicana, announced Wednesday morning.

Because of safety restrictions, there were no public viewing areas for the implosion. An invite-only event had an estimated 500 spectators in attendance. However, tourists still congregated in hopes of catching a glimpse of the show.

Riviera was the last Strip resort to implode before the Tropicana

This isn’t Las Vegas’ first hotel-casino demolition show. For the Dune’s 1993 implosion, Treasure Island’s pirate ship fired its cannons toward the 38-year-old property. Cannons blasted and hundreds of pounds of explosives were set off.

Other hotel-casino implosions include Aladdin, Desert Inn, and Stardust. In 2016, the Riviera was the last Strip resort to implode before the Tropicana.

“There’s been a dry spell,” said Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition, Inc. According to Bailey Schulz USA Today, the company has overseen every major Las Vegas property implosion dating back to the Dunes.

The Tropicana’s towers were destroyed in advance, Loizeaux said. Walls were also torn down to limit “dust creators.” The property’s implosion was planned for early on a weekday for less wind and traffic.

According to Loizeaux, the plan was to “get these structures down quickly, safely, and let things return to normal” for the community and its casinos.