The Tropicana Hotel and Casino, a staple of Las Vegas hospitality and entertainment for nearly 70 years, is set to close its doors on April 2, 2024. This closure marks a significant transformation for the Las Vegas Strip, as part of the Tropicana property will undergo renovations to accommodate the new home for the Oakland Athletics baseball team, which is relocating to Las Vegas.
The Athletics’ move to Las Vegas represents the city’s growing status as a hub for professional sports, joining the ranks of the NFL, NHL, and WNBA franchises already established in the city. Additionally, Las Vegas is poised to host a Formula 1 race, further cementing its reputation as a premier sports destination.
A new Bally’s resort is also planned for development on the Tropicana site, signaling a new era of entertainment and hospitality offerings in the area. The Oakland Athletics have been exploring relocation options for years, seeking a more suitable venue than their current, oversized football stadium in Oakland. The new baseball park in Las Vegas, expected to be the smallest in Major League Baseball with a capacity of around 33,000 seats, is slated for completion in time for the 2028 season, with construction beginning in 2025.
The Tropicana has been a landmark on the Las Vegas Strip for 67 years, occupying 35 acres of prime real estate. The decision to sell nine acres of this iconic property for the construction of the baseball park heralds a poignant shift in the city’s landscape.
Developer Lorenzo Doumani expressed a mix of nostalgia and realism regarding the closure, noting the Tropicana’s status as one of the last remaining landmarks from a bygone era in Las Vegas. Doumani reflected on the city’s evolution from a gambling-centric destination to a multifaceted entertainment hub, acknowledging the inevitable changes while lamenting the end of an era.
As Las Vegas continues to attract professional sports teams and expand its entertainment offerings, the closure of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino represents both the conclusion of a historic chapter and the beginning of a new, dynamic phase in the city’s storied development.
