Tropicana Casino to Be Demolished on October 9

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 09/13/2024

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Tropicana Casino to Be Demolished

After Bally’s acquisition of Tropicana in 2022, the corporation finally announced the casino’s official implosion day. The date is set for October 9 at 2.30 a.m. and will include fireworks and a drone show as a final tribute to the iconic building. The Tropicana property will be replaced by a brand-new casino resort and a ballpark for Major League Baseball (MLB) Athletics. The new stadium should be ready by 2028.

The End of an Era: Tropicana’s 67-Year Legacy and What’s Coming Next

Tropicana closed its doors on April 2, 2024, after 67 years of operations. The hotel opened on April 4, 1957, and was the most expensive project on the Strip until then. The building included a 44,570 square feet casino and 1,467 rooms, while the total acres occupied were 35.

Bally’s official website reports that “9 acres will be granted to the Athletics to construct their proposed 30,000-seat MLB stadium”. The master plan for the rest of the property will then accelerate once the Athletic’s ballpark concept is finalized.

The demolition will take down the main building and the 22-story Paradise tower. Before the closure, Tropicana significantly reduced its offerings, while Bally’s helped workers find new employment, with 70% – 80% of the employees already having new positions.

Countdown to the First Major Las Vegas Implosion in Over a Decade

Earlier in 2024, Bally’s Corporation announced its intention to demolish Tropicana by the end of the year. According to FOX5, the implosion will occur on October 9, 2024, at 2:30 a.m. The demolition of the buildings will not be the main event, though. There will also be fireworks from Grucci and a spectacular drone show.

In April 2024, Clark County issued the required permit, while Bally’s demolition team will prepare the property between September 30 and October 8. Although everything is set in place, the permit needs one final approval before the company can proceed with the demolition.

While demolitions are common in Sin City, the Tropicana will mark the first hotel implosion since 2007, following the takedowns of Stardust and New Frontier. The city saw the implosion of the Desert Inn in 2001, and the same happened with Sands in 1996, all of which were important to the Strip’s architectural landscape.

From Tropicana’s Implosion to Demolishing Bally’s Casino Site in Chicago

It’s a busy time for Bally’s, which has lots of ongoing casino projects. Recently, the company has agreed to a buyout from Standard General, a hedge fund led by Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim. The same day Bally’s announced Tropicana’s implosion, the brand started demolishing its Chicago casino site. In the meantime, a New York construction project is in the making, while the company is bidding for three downstate casino licenses there.

For Bally’s in Chicago, the property is transforming into a new casino with a hotel tower of 500 rooms, a 3,000-seat theater, and a public park. Both projects are partially financed by Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI), while the location in Chicago is planning to open in September 2026.