The Ever-Changing Face of Las Vegas

It was one of the most famous casino resorts of its day and became the haunt of every top celebrity in the 1950s and 60s. But the news that The Tropicana is to be destroyed to make way for something new was not met with universal dismay. There is nothing Vegas loves more than a demolition, after all.

The Trop, as it is lovingly known, was once the most expensive casino ever built in Las Vegas. But the site will now be cleared to make way for a shiny new ballpark. Nothing ever stays the same in Las Vegas and, just as sports betting sites attract more and more customers, the city changes to stay relevant. The Tropicana will not be the last casino to disappear – but it does hold a special place in the city’s heart.

Iconic Casino Resort

When it was built in 1957, The Tropicana cost $15 million and soon became the destination on The Strip. As with much of the city at the time, there were serious Mob connections and the hotel-casino was the height of luxury. With a mosaic-tiled entrance and a pool that played music underwater, the celebrities were soon flocking to its doors.

It was the scene of Siegfried and Roy’s first-ever performance and Elizabeth Taylor was a frequent visitor at the time of her relationship with singer Eddie Fisher, who had a residency there. The place became known for its glitzy shows and one that all other resorts were compared to.

Famous Demolitions

Now The Tropicana is slated for demolition. But it is hardly the first famous casino to meet that fate. The practice really became popular in the early 1990s – and site owners soon learned that the spectacle was a newsworthy spectacle that could be used to great marketing effect.

The similarly iconic Dunes resort was imploded in 1993 and the Sands, Aladdin and Hacienda all went the same way in the next few years. More demolitions and implosions have followed as older casinos made way for the ultra-glitzy and luxurious resorts we know and love today.

Sports Stadiums

The Tropicana’s demolition is a little bit different to those we listed earlier though. There are plans for a new casino to be built on part of the 35-acre site. But the big news is that nine acres are to be used to build a ballpark for the soon-to-be relocated Oakland A’s Major League Baseball franchise.

There was a time when the professional sports leagues shunned Las Vegas because of its gambling ties. But that has all changed with the relaxation of betting laws and regulations. Now the city is home to the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Vegas Golden Knights – and there are rumors of an NBA franchise coming too. The A’s, or whatever the new team will be called, will be far from the only sports ticket in town.

Newer Attractions

Las Vegas changing is nothing new, even if the arrival of major league sports teams is. But there are other huge new attractions scheduled to join the city skyline in the coming years. There are always newer and bigger attractions planned by the resorts, so visitors can always expect the biggest shows in the entertainment capital of the world.

Atomic Golf at the STRAT promises four floors of golfing fun, while a new Game of Thrones attraction has also been teased. But the major development in the city is the MSG Sphere, whose huge LED screen will wrap around, as well as in front of, the venue’s visitors. At a cost of $2.3 billion, it is sure to be an incredible experience.

Change is Inevitable

So, while some will mourn the passing of The Trop, the nature of Las Vegas is that change is always around the corner. It is the way of Vegas life that something old will be destroyed to make way for something new. The Tropicana just feels like a connection to the past that is now set to disappear.

Many other smaller casinos, away from The Strip, have either closed or have been demolished in recent years – especially after the COVID pandemic. It is sad for the locals who use the places like other cities would use bars. But they know to just deal with it as a fact of life because the truth is that Las Vegas will probably never stop evolving.

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