Tropicana Casino Demolished to Make Way for Stadium

The Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas was imploded early Wednesday morning, marking the end of the last true mob-era structure on the Strip. The demolition, accompanied by fireworks and music, was part of a project to clear land for a $1.5 billion stadium for the Oakland Athletics, who are relocating to Las Vegas. Opened in 1957, the Tropicana was known as the 'Tiffany of the Strip' and was famous for its luxurious atmosphere and connections to organized crime, particularly mobster Frank Costello. This implosion is the first of its kind in Las Vegas since 2016 and adds to the city's history of transforming casino demolitions into public spectacles. The Tropicana's legacy includes serving as a haunt for the Rat Pack and appearances in films like Diamonds Are Forever. With its closure, only the Flamingo remains from the city's original mob era, although its structures have been significantly altered.