Tropicana Las Vegas collaborates with community groups, museums to preserve historic pieces ahead of closure

Days ahead of its closure, the Tropicana Las Vegas has announced that it is teaming up with community groups in an effort to preserve its historic and sentimental pieces. "Tropicana Las Vegas is collaborating with esteemed institutions such as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the Neon Museum, and the Showgirl Museum to preserve the heritage and items of sentimental value within the Tropicana," the resort posted on social media.

Bally’s, which operates the Tropicana had earlier announced that the casino-hotel will close on Tuesday, April 2nd. After its closure, the property will be demolished, and a portion of the land will be handed over to the Oakland Athletics for its new baseball stadium.

Tropicana Las Vegas is collaborating with esteemed institutions such as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the Neon Museum, and the Showgirl Museum to preserve the heritage and items of sentimental value within the Tropicana. pic.twitter.com/m1Hh8nj9Hr

— Tropicana Las Vegas (@TropLV) March 25, 2024

The Tropicana is one of the oldest casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, with its opening dating back to April 4th, 1957. The resort has hosted industry legends including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Jayne Mansfield, Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, Gladys Knight, and Wayne Newton.

News3LV cited a spokesperson for UNLV Special Collections and Archives who said that discussions have focused on corporate records for the Tropicana, although details are still fluid. Another source told the above-mentioned publication that The Neon Museum could take possession of signage, carpet samples, uniforms, and other artifacts, while the Showgirl Museum could take theater artifacts.

The property will be demolished and a portion of the land will be transferred to the Oakland Athletics for a new baseball stadium. Demolition has not yet been scheduled.

Earlier this month, Marcus Glover, Executive VP and COO for Bally's, said there has not been a decision made yet on whether the Tropicana Las Vegas will have a ceremonial implosion. However, he said the site is expected to be ready to hand over to the A’s by April 2025. The ballpark is projected to take up nine acres of the Tropicana's 35-acre property.

Meanwhile, The Oakland Athletics released four new renderings of the Major League Baseball club’s planned $1.5 billion Las Vegas stadium, with designs similar to Australia’s Sydney Opera House. The architectural firms who designed the 33,000-seat ballpark, Big Architects and HNTB, described its planned non-retractable roof as a “spherical armadillo.” The designers, in a statement, said that the stadium provides an outdoor feel with views of the Strip.