Bally’s Corp. Submits Steaming Pile of Proposed WTF for Trop Site

By Scott Roeben, on October 17 2024
3 min read 15 comments
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The A’s debacle in Las Vegas is moving full steam backward with the submission of a concept of a plan from Bally’s Corp. for the Tropicana site.

Bally’s Corp. and the A’s have yet to provide specifics of how their whimsical projects (a casino resort and MLB ballpark) will be funded, but that’s not stopping them from cranking out renderings like business cards at CES.

Here’s a look at the imaginary Bally’s Corp. resort along with its imaginary ballpark.

Subject to change, and by that we mean it’s probably going to just be a parking lot.

Plans submitted to Clark County are chockablock with enticing details about the proposed project.

The ballpark alone is expected to cost $1.5 billion, even more if you include branded cocktail napkins.

The ballpark will presumably accommodate 33,000 fans. Projecting that many fans would ever attend an A’s game is similar to the unbridled optimism (and delusion) of guys who buy Magnum condoms.

The A’s hammock simply doesn’t reach both trees. Ditto Bally’s Corp. They’re perfect for each other.

In 2024, the A’s have had lower attendance numbers than 553 U.S. sports teams, including their own AAA affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators.

But back to the Bally’s Corp. resort!

Plans are to things existing as psychics are to winning lottery numbers.

Among the fun facts entirely untethered from reality: Three hotel towers, built in phases. The 90,000-square-foot casino will have 1,500 slots, 75 table games, a poker room and sportsbook. The resort will also have meeting space, lots of bars and restaurants and a dayclub.

For the record, these are all numbers being pulled out of buttholes. Just for some context.

Anything could happen. Not this, but anything else.

But wait, there’s more!

The plans say there will be 2,500 parking spaces on-site, with another 43,920 within walking distance or accessible by flying cars, which are just as likely to happen by 2028 as a new A’s ballpark and integrated resort on the Tropicana site.

 

Anyway, we’re tired of being perceived as negative about these projects. Local media certainly isn’t showing any sign of skepticism, they’re cheerleading and passing along what they’re told without asking any tough questions. Or any questions, really.

We love the idea of a new casino on the recently-imploded Tropicana site. We just haven’t seen any evidence any of what’s being proposed is actually happening.

This is going to save the Seminoles a ton of money when they build the A’s a stadium in Sacramento. No, really, the A’s filed for the trademarks “Sacramento A’s” and “Sacramento Athletics” back in April 2024.

The entire A’s/Bally’s project has been giving off All-Net Arena vibes since day one.

Show us (Vegas) the money. Any money at all. Plans and hopes and confidence and Gap stock aren’t financing.

The problem with drinking Kool-Aid is eventually it rots your teeth, puts you at a higher risk of kidney stones, along with headaches, indigestion and rashes. And you can’t spell acesulfame potassium without an A. There’s a remote chance we have a point here. Actual results may vary.

Update (10/17/24): On the bright side, all documents related to the alleged financing of the A’s ballpark are confidential.

Update (10/17/24): We can’t recall hearing from Bally’s Corp. before, but following the publication of our story, a Bally’s representative reached out with a statement: “The designs are initial massing diagrams intended to ensure that both our resort program and the A’s stadium program can be successfully accommodated on the site. We anticipate that the designs will evolve as we advance the project.”

So, the project that isn’t happening won’t look anything like the imaginary project depicted in the rendering. Simply glorious and we can’t wait to see how the rest of this saga unfolds.