The iconic Tropicana Las Vegas took its final bow yesterday with a breathtaking spectacle. An impressive drone and fireworks show illuminated the skyline, followed by the 22-second-long implosion of the Tropicana, the last remaining casino of its era on the Las Vegas Strip.
The event marks the next chapter in Las Vegas' legacy of reinvention: the site will house the ballpark for the former Oakland Athletics, the MLB team that will soon call Las Vegas home, as well as a “world-class entertainment resort destination in partnership with Bally’s Corporation.”
The Tropicana before implosion. (Photo Credit: Maura Lee-Byrne)
“Bally’s is honored to have been part of this historic moment, bidding farewell to the iconic Tropicana,” said Soo Kim, chairman of Bally's Corporation. “As we celebrate its legacy, we look ahead to building a world-class entertainment resort, the future home of the Athletics, and reinforcing Las Vegas as the ultimate sports and entertainment capital.”
“The demolition of the Tropicana is an important milestone in the process of bringing A’s baseball to the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip and the community of Southern Nevada,” said John Fisher, owner of the A’s. “We hope that, in time, this site will become a place of unforgettable experiences for fans of the game. We extend our gratitude to Bally's and GLPI for their partnership as we embark on this project together.”
A vegas institution for six decades. (Photo Credit: Anton Ivanov Photo, Adobe Stock)
The implosion of the Tropicana’s two 22-storey towers, involved a total of 22,000 lineal feet of detonating cord. The structural steel-framed Paradise Tower featured 220 cut-point locations loaded with 490 pounds of explosives, while the reinforced concrete-framed Club Tower had 1,130 boreholes filled with 1,700 pounds of explosives.
Following the ceremony and ahead of the detonation, the Tropicana was celebrated with a spectacular 555-drone and fireworks display.
Often referred to as ‘The Trop,’ The Tropicana Las Vegas had been a cornerstone of the Las Vegas Strip since its opening in 1957. Developed by Miami-based businessman Ben Jaffe, its luxurious South Beach-inspired architecture and tropical theme set a new standard for opulence, quickly earning it the moniker "The Tiffany of the Strip."
The Tropicana boasted the largest casino in Las Vegas at the time of its opening, drawing in an elite crowd of high-rollers and celebrities. It remained an iconic fixture on the Strip, representing the evolution of entertainment, luxury and gaming in the city for over six decades.
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