After almost seven decades of operations, the Tropicana Las Vegas is expected to close April 2, management told employees in a memorandum sent Monday morning. The memo stated that the Strip location needed to be demolished ahead of construction of a $1.5 billion baseball stadium.
Tropicana General Manager Arik Knowles told employees Monday that the 67-year-old Rat Pack-era Strip resort would begin closing out hotel bookings and relocate future reservations.
An operator at the resort said Knowles wasn’t accepting media calls but confirmed the existence of the memorandum. The news was first reported by Las Vegas Locally on X, formerly Twitter.
Knowles said Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corp., which operates the Tropicana, needs to finalize its master plan in which 9 acres of the 35-acre site would be turned over to Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics to be used for a future 33,000-seat stadium that is expected to open in 2028.
“We understand and appreciate the number of questions many of you have at the time,” Knowles wrote. “Please be assured that property leadership is working closely with Bally’s leadership to assist all team members through this transition period.”
Bally’s sent a statement following the property’s memorandum, confirming Tropicana’s closing date.
“The master plan for the site will accelerate once the Athletics’ ballpark concept design is finalized. The overall development will create energy and vibrancy that previously hasn’t existed on this side of the Strip, adding additional excitement for the sports destination,” the company said.
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 is expected to discuss the Tropicana closing later today.
The Tropicana was one of the first individual resorts to negotiate a new five-year labor agreement with Culinary Workers Union Local 226 following settlements the union reached in November with MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts.
Nevada lawmakers last June approved SB1, which created a public funding package worth up to $380 million to help construct the stadium for the relocated Athletics. The legislation specifically designated the Tropicana as the site for the future ballpark. Developers said the 1,500-room hotel casino needed to be closed and demolished by the end of the year to allow construction to begin by April 2025.
Tropicana employees have said they are continuing to work through the distractions concerning the A’s relocation.
“While this is a great opportunity for the company, it comes with a bittersweet feeling as this means that operations of the Tropicana Las Vegas will shut down for redevelopment,” Knowles wrote.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
