Drop the Trop: 555 drones, 2,100 pounds of explosives highlight implosion
Come 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, the pair of Tropicana hotel towers that have stood on the Strip for decades will come down in less than 30 seconds.
The 23-story towers, totaling 917,400 square feet, will be reduced to rubble in 22 seconds, as crews from Controlled Demolition ignite a combined 2,190 pounds of explosives, Bally’s Corp. and the Oakland Athletics jointly announced Wednesday.
Before that occurs, the Tropicana will be celebrated one last time with a show featuring 555 drones and a fireworks display, created by Fireworks by Grucci.
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO, Steve Hill, said the occasion will be symbolic of Las Vegas itself.
“We have a spectacularly rich history that defined live entertainment, nightlife and culture, and we appreciate the significant role The Tropicana had in making Las Vegas what it is today, Hill said in a statement. “As a city that constantly reinvents, reinvests and looks toward the future, we couldn’t be more excited to see how this iconic corner will once again shape Las Vegas’ legacy.”
Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson said he believes the Tropicana will be the last structure on Las Vegas Boulevard to be imploded for quite some time.
“It’s going to be an awfully exciting evening,” Gibson told the Review-Journal this month. “It’s been years since we did our last one, and it will likely be many, many years before we do another.”
The Rat Pack era property is being brought down in order to make way for the Athletics’ planned $1.5 billion ballpark. The stadium is slated to be built on 9 acres of the 35-acre site. Bally’s Corp. plans to build a new resort around the ballpark at a future date.
The A’s plan to begin construction in the second quarter of next year, scheduled to wrap up in early 2028 in time for that Major League Baseball season.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.