Las Vegas's iconic Tropicana Casino, which closed its doors in April, is set to to be imploded in an early-morning ceremony on October 9, 2024. Via internal memos and comments provided to local media, Tropicana owner Bally's Corporation has confirmed the coordinated implosion that will bring down both of the casino's towers will be conducted as an event of sorts for onlookers to experience.
“Pending approvals, Bally’s Corporation and the Oakland A’s are set to host a commemorative event on the morning of October 9, featuring a spectacular drone and fireworks display by Fireworks by Grucci concluding with the implosion of the Tropicana slated for 2:30am,” a Bally’s representative told Las Vegas's 8NewsNow.
Strip-vicinity implosions have been held in the wee morning hours in Las Vegas before and are designed to minimize the impact of dust and possible debris on the following morning's traffic. Bally's received a permit for a third-party demolition firm to conduct the job, with the planting of the explosives to begin around September 30.
Cleaning and preparation of site to take months
The property continues to undergo asbestos-abatement procedures that will likely take up the rest of this month, prior to the implosion itself. The carcinogenic element was commonly found in the '50s-era construction used for the Flamingo because of its anti-flammable properties.
Construction of the new home of Major League Baseball's Athletics will begin at a yet-to-be-determined date, following more months of debris removal and preparation of the parcel for new use. Current plans call for the construction of a 'boutique'-style stadium that will seat 33,000 fans, making it the second-smallest ballpark in use by a Major League team once it opens in 2028.
The ballpark itself will be wrapped by a casino and buttressed by parking structures, all packaged onto the 34-acre parcel. There's been no indication if Bally's will bring back any form of poker once the new casino opens. The historic Tropicana was once home to one of Vegas's most popular poker rooms, even though its popularity faded -- much like the rest of the casino -- as newer and larger properties have steadily remade the Vegas Strip.
