WATCH: Iconic Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Implodes in Spectacular Fashion

This week the iconic Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip was demolished with an implosion and fireworks show during this year's IMEX America convention. The city said goodbye to the property that had been a staple of the strip for decades in true Vegas fashion: with a spectacular fireworks display and drone show which culminated in the controlled demolition of the Tropicana.

Before the sun rose on Wednesday, crowds gathered to watch as the two Rat Pack-era hotel towers were reduced to rubble in an extravagant show that was fitting for the Las Vegas legend. Crowds of hospitality professionals and Las Vegas locals gathered to watch as the Tropicana went out with a bang.

Video courtesy of Jeff Heilman, implosion starts at 6:15

“It is honoring what the Tropicana has meant to Las Vegas,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday prior to the implosion. “It’s been a big part of our identity, our brand and certainly early in its history it was an iconic location. Now we’re going to turn into a new iconic location, which is very fitting for Las Vegas. It’s very exciting for our city to bring Major League Baseball here.”

[Related: Iconic Tropicana Las Vegas Closes for Good. See Photos Throughout the Years]

The implosion of the two hotel towers cleared nine acres of land for the Major League Baseball’s Athletics franchise to construct a proposed $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat stadium as part of the city's latest efforts to transform Sin City into a major sports hub. Oakland Athletics will continue their move from California to Las Vegas, creating a new Las Vegas team that will utilize the new sports arena after its completion in 2028.

Want more content from IMEX? Click here for our IMEX America 2024 coverage all in one place.