After nearly seven decades of operation, the Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas is set to close its doors. The iconic establishment will be demolished in spring to pave the way for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium, designated as the new home for the Oakland Athletics.
Bally's Corp., the entity that acquired Tropicana for $308 million in 2021, has announced the closure date as April 2, just days before the casino's 67th anniversary. The forthcoming stadium, situated on the casino's site, is designed to accommodate 33 thousand spectators and feature a retractable roof. As per the developer's timeline, the stadium is scheduled to open in 2028.
Originally conceived by Ben Yaffe, co-owner of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Tropicana was initially planned as the premier three-story, 300-room hotel in Las Vegas. However, due to circumstances, Yaffe leased the property to development project manager Phil Castel. The Gaming Control Board's suspicions about Castel's criminal ties led him to sell his stake in Tropicana in early 1957. By April 3 of the same year, the establishment secured a gaming license and transformed into a full-fledged casino.
