Tropicana Las Vegas, a Sin City landmark since 1957, will be demolished to make way for MLB stadium
The Tropicana Las Vegas, an iconic hotel-casino that opened in 1957, will close its doors on April 2 to make way for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium, the new home for the Oakland Athletics. The closure marks the end of a more than 60-year legacy for the Tropicana, which was once known as the “Tiffany of the Strip.”
Tropicana Las Vegas
The hotel-casino had ties to the mob in its early years but also enjoyed many years of success. It was featured in Elvis Presley’s film “Viva Las Vegas” and hosted A-list performers like Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, and Gladys Knight. The Tropicana was also home to the long-running topless show “Folies Bergere,” which debuted in 1959. Bally’s Corp., the owner of Tropicana, announced the closure and plans for demolition to make room for the baseball stadium. Bally’s President George Papanier referred to the ballpark project as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The new stadium, Tropicana Las Vegas backed by $380 million in public funding, is expected to open in 2028. The decision to close the Tropicana comes after Bally’s reached an agreement with the Culinary Workers Union, representing around 500 workers, for a new five-year contract. The severance package included in the contract is expected to assist the senior workforce in transitioning to new employment opportunities.
The closure of the Tropicana Las Vegas is part of the ongoing transformation of the Las Vegas Strip, with the site intersecting with a major thoroughfare named after the iconic hotel. The surrounding area features towering megaresorts, the homes of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, and the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. Bally’s purchased the Tropicana in 2021 for $308 million and expressed excitement about the development of a new resort and ballpark, aiming to create a new landmark paying homage to Las Vegas’ iconic history.
