- Tropicana offered gaming in Las Vegas for over six decades.
- The new stadium will cost $1.5 billion to create.
- The casino will close on April 2.
This week, it was announced that the Tropicana Las Vegas Casino will be closing its doors after more than 60 years of service.
The venue will now become the home of the Oakland Athletics after $1.5 billion is spent on a new Major League Baseball stadium.
Major Changes to Las Vegas
Bally’s Corporation announced the big change this week, stating the casino will shut down for good on April 2. This will be just a few days before the casino celebrates its 67th anniversary. Once the doors are closed, the demolition process will begin on the Strip.
The Tropicana has a long and colorful history in Sin City, nicknamed the “Tiffany of the Strip“. It was the most expensive hotel-casino when it was created in 1957, costing $15 million to create. The property housed three stories and offered 300 guest rooms.
Now, the casino will become a ballpark with 30,000 seats. Back in November, the MLB owners approved the move of the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas, so the plans were put in motion for the stadium.
The Ballpark Will Open 2028
Bally’s President, George Papanier, stated the ballpark is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the company and the team. The company looks forward to developing a new resort and ballpark and watching as it becomes a landmark destination in Las Vegas.
The ballpark comes with a big price tag, with around $380 million of the total coming from public funding. It is expected to open in 2028 and will be located near the Las Vegas Raiders, another former Oakland team. The Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2020.
Bally’s will stop taking hotel reservations after April 2 and relocate any customers who have a reservation after the closing date. The announcement comes at an odd time when the brand had just reached a new five-year contract agreement with the Culinary Workers Union.
The hope is that the severance packages secured during the recent contract negotiations will be enough to help those out of work after the casino closes. The workforce at the Tropicana is mainly seniors, with many having worked at the venue for decades.
The employees will receive $2,000 in severance pay for each year of work completed. For those who have been with the company for decades, this will be several thousands of dollars. It will be a sad day for many as the casino closes, both for employees and regular visitors.
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