Boomtown! Tropicana Files For Implosion Permits

Demolition experts will soon erase the iconic Tropicana casino hotel from the Las Vegas skyline, but not from its memory. (Image: Barry King / Alamy)

Tropicana is one step closer to being imploded. This week “Tropicana Land LLC” filed a demolition permit with Clark County.

No date has been set for the implosion since the permits are pending approval. Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) says the implosion will happen “later this year.”

KLAS is reporting that work will be completed by Oct. 8. This may not be the exact date of the implosion but this timeframe is similar to unconfirmed rumors that the implosion will take place in early October.

This implosion permit is for the two largest structures of the Tropicana. The 22-story Tropicana Club and 22-story Paradise Tower will both come down as part of one massive “single implosion event” according to the permit.

Construction crews have been preparing the property for a potential implosion since the Tropicana closed on April 2. Visitors can see through the two empty towers at the Tropicana.

While there's no set date for an implosion, there is an expiration date for the permit. Tropicana has until Jan. 7, 2025, to implode the buildings. The company would have to apply for new permits should it not meet the deadline.

Physical implosions are never a concern when it comes to online American casinos.

What Does The Future Hold?

Bally’s Corp. operated Tropicana and has the rights to build a new casino and hotel. Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI) owns the land. The two companies are working together for the next phase of this land.

The current plan is for about nine of the 35 acres to house a new Major League Baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s. The groundbreaking is slated for early 2025 with the A’s first pitch in Las Vegas being thrown in 2028, according to Sports Business Journal.

The land owner and casino operator haven’t revealed any other specific plans for the Tropicana land.

Bally’s could build a new hotel and casino. If so, the new casino will likely be the new Bally’s Las Vegas. The most recent casino with this name is now known as Horseshoe Las Vegas.

Going further back, this property was the original MGM Grand. Coincidentally, the current MGM Grand is across the street from the Tropicana and possible future Bally's Las Vegas.

There could also be a retail plaza included when companies finalize plans for the land that was once home to the Tropicana.

It's also possible that another company could take over the project. The Tropicana site could be more valuable than ever if the MLB stadium begins construction.

In April, Colin Mansfield from CBRE Credit Research in Las Vegas told the Las Vegas-Review Journal that Bally’s could move on from Las Vegas because this site could be a drag on finances:

“It is a net-negative carrying asset for Bally’s, but the attractiveness and potential value of the site has gone up since the time of purchase.”

There’s still plenty to do to replace the iconic Tropicana.

And if you prefer the comfort of your own home, try your luck at social casino games.