On October 9, 2024, around 2:30am, the remnants of Tropicana Las Vegas will be imploded. Vegas Advantage will be in an OYO Strip View room that night thanks to a partnership.
This will be our third implosion. We witnessed the Clarion implosion, previously referred to as Debbie Reynolds Casino, from the Riviera employee parking deck. Then, we watched Riviera’s Monaco Tower implode from the Springhill Suites parking deck. We learned a few things from these experiences.
Don’t park near the implosion
The most important suggestion this night might be to not park anywhere near Tropicana when it is imploded. While the building mostly falls straight down, particles blow around the site. Some of it is dust. Other parts are pieces of steel-reinforced concrete that blow to bits. If you park near the implosion in a surface lot or deck exposed to the elements, expect it to be covered in dust, if not rocks.
The implosion will set off car alarms thousands of feet in every direction. If you don’t get back to your car in time, the battery may die.
If you park too close, don’t expect to leave the area quickly after the implosion. Las Vegas Blvd, Tropicana Ave, and Reno Avenue will be closed for hours after the implosion. This leaves few ways out of OYO and MGM Grand. Drivers must leave east on Tropicana Avenue from these properties. Resorts on the west side of the Strip have a few more options but gridlock should still be expected.
OYO’s parking deck is reportedly closed due to being in the blast zone. There are probably not enough parking spaces for the guests that night.
Consider rideshare or taxis. It would be nice if the Las Vegas Monorail decided to open. It appears that it will be closed as its hours that day are 7am to 2am.
Don’t get too close outside
It may be tempting to try to get as close as possible to the implosion. There are several problems with this.
There is no official viewing area. Expect sidewalks and pedestrian bridges to be closed. The ones connecting to Tropicana already are. The best places to watch are likely at the top of parking decks in the area.
If you get too close, it will be hard to escape the area when needed. Dust clouds will reach neighboring parcels in minutes, creating poor air quality.
Bring a mask
Most people hate masks these days. It is a reminder of the COVID era. However, if you get too close to the dust cloud, and can’t escape, it can prevent choking on unhealthy concrete and steel particles.
Don’t drink too much of anything
It may be tempting to drink a lot of alcohol to say goodbye to a classic Las Vegas property. Water is important to stay hydrated. Whatever your beverage of choice, treat it like New Year’s Eve and drink it slowly. Bathrooms will be limited. If you take a bathroom break at the wrong time, you may miss the main event. You may also find it difficult to get your spot back.
Expect the implosion to be late
Both implosions we witnessed ran late. People snuck into the Clarion building when it was time for it to be imploded. It had to be canvassed again before it could cleared. I don’t think the late Riviera implosion reason was ever disclosed.
While both were about an hour late spectators were left in the dark about delays. This is another reason to watch your fluid intake. There is no way to know when it will happen, especially without an official viewing area like Riviera had.
Plan escape routes
After the implosion, you will need to figure out how to get out of the area. Plan this before you arrive. You will need a plan on foot and by car. The LVMPD has a map showing all of the closures, which will likely stay for hours after the implosion.
If you are with a group, it is possible you will get separated trying to get indoors. Plan a meeting spot inside one of the nearby casinos in case that happens.
Or watch the Vegas Advantage livestream
Vegas Advantage will livestream the implosion from OYO. You can watch it without dealing with all of the trouble of finding a safe spot with a good view. The stream will appear here after midnight on October 9:
