Tropicana implosion on track for October, executive says

The implosion and clearing of the Tropicana resort property is on track, the general manager of the resort told regulators Wednesday.

Arik Knowles, the Bally’s Corp. executive who will be responsible for the October demolition of the shuttered Tropicana and the planned development of a resort with a $1.5 billion baseball stadium, was recommended for licensing Wednesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Knowles was found suitable as a key executive in a unanimous board vote. Final approval will be considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission on Aug. 22.

Knowles, a 28-year gaming industry veteran with experience at MGM properties, The Venetian and Fontainebleau, said his job responsibilities have changed since taking executive roles with Bally’s when it acquired the property from Penn Entertainment in 2022.

“Right now, the Tropicana is down to a handful of team members, including myself,” Knowles told board members, “mostly (human resources), finance, and a few facility folks. The demolition of the property using licensed contractors and strictly following all the local, county, state, federal guidelines have made significant progress as you probably have seen.”

Knowles said preparation for the October implosion, which doesn’t have a firm date, is about 80 percent complete.

“The two towers have been gutted,” he said. “We are planning an implosion of those towers in early October, and the site is scheduled to be clear in early 2025, months ahead of our April 2025 requirement.”

Knowles said a date hasn’t been set for the groundbreaking of the 33,000-seat stadium where the relocated Oakland A’s will begin the 2028 Major League Baseball season.

Knowles also said items of historic significance were removed from the property and have been donated to UNLV archives, the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum.

“One exception, though, is the famous glass ceiling at the entrance. At this point, that has been painstakingly removed and is being stored for future use on the project,” he said.

He was referring to a stained-glass canopy ceiling, installed for $1 million in 1973, above the casino floor.

Knowles’ attorney, Dan Reaser, also updated the board on the announced merger agreement between New York-based hedge fund Standard General LP, headed by Bally board chairman Soo Kim, with Bally’s. That deal won’t close until next year because it requires approval from multiple gaming regulatory jurisdictions. Nevada regulators are familiar with Kim and have licensed him in his board role.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.