Las Vegas’ famed Tropicana hotel-casino, once a symbol of grandeur on the Strip, was brought down in a 22-second implosion early Wednesday morning to clear the way for a new Major League Baseball stadium. The implosion marks the first in nearly a decade for the city, as the landscape of the Las Vegas Strip continues to evolve.
At 2:30 a.m. Pacific time, more than 2,000 pounds of explosives took down the Tropicana’s Paradise Tower and Club Tower in under half a minute. The once iconic “Tiffany of the Strip,” which opened in 1957 and became known for its entertainment acts like the Folies Bergere revue and performances by jazz legend Louis Armstrong, stood for nearly 70 years before its demolition.
The implosion was a private event with an estimated 500 invite-only guests in attendance. Although there were no public viewing areas due to safety concerns, Las Vegas still drew crowds eager to witness the occasion.
Hotels surrounding the demolition site saw a spike in demand, with Mandalay Bay offering rooms for $699 the night of the implosion, compared to rates of under $80 just two days later. Watch parties were held at nearby rooftop venues, allowing some spectators to catch a glimpse of the event.
The implosion was preceded by an elaborate send-off that included a drone and fireworks display featuring 555 drones creating images of Las Vegas’ iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign and the Oakland Athletics logo. Set to music from Vegas legends like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, the show celebrated the city’s history of turning destruction into spectacle.
Steve Crupi, a former TV news reporter who has covered every major Las Vegas implosion, emphasized the fascination surrounding such events. “There’s something magical about implosions. A structure that big being brought down in as little as 5 seconds? It just seems impossible. And yet they do it with such precision and such artistry, that it really is just more than an act of demolition. It’s a work of art,” Crupi told USA Today.
The Tropicana’s implosion adds it to the list of Las Vegas landmarks that have been taken down in recent decades, including the Dunes, Stardust, and Riviera.
David Schwartz, a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, notes that the fascination with such demolitions dates back to the city’s use of atomic tourism in the 1950s, when tourists would gather to watch nuclear tests. “It’s just part of that human fascination for things going boom,” Schwartz said.
The Tropicana’s fall was carefully planned. The towers were gutted in advance to minimize dust, and the implosion was scheduled for early in the morning to avoid wind and traffic disruptions.
Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition, Inc., which oversaw the demolition, emphasized the need for speed and safety, stating that the goal is to “get these structures down quickly, safely, and let things return to normal.”
The land where the Tropicana once stood will soon be transformed into a state-of-the-art ballpark for the Oakland Athletics, who are relocating from California. The nine-acre site will also include a resort developed by Bally’s and Gaming and Leisure Properties.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/10/09/81386-tropicana-las-vegas-implodes-in-22-seconds-making-way-for-new-mlb-stadium
