Bally’s Corporation, the maestro behind the soon-to-disappear icon, Tropicana Las Vegas, is set to leave the table with a generous donation to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In a move akin to saving a cherished hand from the dealer’s discard, the casino juggernaut has agreed to part with a collection of treasured memorabilia, answering the call from the university’s Special Collections and Archives department. Their aim? To enshrine a slice of this vintage Vegas resort’s legacy for future generations.
The Oakland A’s Roll the Dice on a New Home
The house of cards that is Tropicana Las Vegas will topple tomorrow, folding a hand played since the days when the Strip was young. This once glittering gem, a fossil from the golden days of Sin City, will soon make way for what promises to be a colossal shrine to America’s pastime: a state-of-the-art stadium for the Oakland Athletics. It’s a bittersweet wager for many; a push against nostalgia that lands instead on the allure of new beginnings. For those yearning to revisit the glitzy nostalgia, a treasure trove at UNLV will safely guard those winning memories.
Ever the shrewd player, Bally’s snapped up the Tropicana property in 2022 with a $148 million price tag. Despite the allure of its historic prestige, the resort couldn’t keep up with the casino world’s ever-changing odds and found its chips down. Thus, the masterstroke—demolish and deal anew, allowing a fresh new venture to take root.
Shards of History: A Deal with Yesterday
Even as the Tropicana faces its final curtain call, it leaves behind a veritable jackpot of historical artifacts now housed at UNLV. From architectural blueprints that sketch its spectacular rise to the very training manuals that underpinned casino operations, this collection offers a sprawling panorama of times gone by.
Sarah Quigley, the adept director at UNLV’s Special Collections and Archives, enthusiastically recounted her team’s efforts to secure these prized relics from Bally’s. Her excitement is infectious, like a player on a hot streak recounting their luck. “It’s like having the dealer’s guide from the golden age,” she quips to Casino.org, highlighting the value of manuals that illuminate how the Tropicana maintained its allure over the decades.
For instance, we’ve got the manual for the phone operators. It not only details telecom operations but also sets the standard for supreme customer service,” Quigley explains, her passion vivid.
Sarah Quigley, Director, Special Collections and Archives
The collection doesn’t stop at dry documents. Quigley shares her team’s triumph in acquiring more flamboyant fragments, like photographs, brochures, and even unseen film footage from the legendary Folies Bergère—a show that graced the Strip with its glamour for half a century. Lights! Camera! Digitize! It’s only a matter of time before these treasures make their grand online debut, ensuring a legacy that resonates far beyond the neon lights of The Strip.
In a city where fortunes are won and history is often the ante, Bally’s and UNLV’s partnership promises a jackpot of cultural preservation that’s not just a mere side bet, but a banker’s shot at enshrining Las Vegas’ storied past.
