The rumours have finally been confirmed. A piece of Las Vegas history will be lost this April with the closure of Tropicana.
The decision has been taken to cease operations and eventually demolish this little corner of the Las Vegas strip. According to a memo circulated on Monday by Tropicana owners, Ballys Corporation, the resort will close on 2 April.
Tropicana has been in operation for seven decades and was once the playground of the Rat Pack elite. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin were regular visitors and made the hotel the place to be in the bygone era.
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However, its fair to say that due to lack of investment, TLC and the development of many superior resorts in the surrounding area, Tropicana has been more than overshadowed in recent years.
Situated in a prime position, directly opposite Excalibur, New York New York and MGM Grand, it has found it hard to compete for the main tourist trade.
For many, that was what made is special. It has remained popular with regulars and locals, offering an affordable overnight stay right on the Strip with low budget food options and low table minimums.
But ultimately, money is what makes the world go round, especially in Las Vegas. The demolition of Tropicana is expected to make way for a new $1.5 billion baseball stadium development to house the Oakland Athletics.
This is certainly not a done deal yet though. Despite initial drawings being circulated of what the new development may look like and a commitment of $380 million of tax payers money, there is still no definite deal in place.
In its statement, Bally’s said, “The master plan for the site will accelerate once the Athletics’ ballpark concept design is finalized. The overall development will create energy and vibrancy that previously hasn’t existed on this side of the Strip, adding additional excitement for the sports destination.
“While this is a great opportunity for the company, it comes with a bittersweet feeling as this means that operations of the Tropicana Las Vegas will shut down for redevelopment.”
The demolition date is not yet confirmed, however, it is expected to be sometime in 2024. This is to allow construction to commence April 2025 for a proposed 2028 opening.
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