The Tropicana’s demolition comes alongside news that the Oakland A’s plan to build a Vegas ballpark in that same spot. And the ballpark’s proposed design has just been released in renders earlier this week by The Athletics, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), and HNTB.
The design is shaped like, by the press releases’ own admission, a spherical armadillo, inspired by the city’s local climate. The ballpark design has a large opening at the front, creating a sense of welcoming passerbyers on the Strip, adding to the iconic road of activities the Strip offers. It would occupy 9 of the 35-acres that the Tropicana stood on.
It would have a 33,000-person capacity and “provide an outdoor feel with views of the city’s skyline,” according to the release. “The tiered design will split upper and lower seating bowls to bring fans closer to the action than traditional ballparks and provide clear sight lines from every seat.” It opens north for natural lighting and views of the Strip, designed with the ballpark’s location in mind. It would also have an 18,000-square-foot-jumbotron and the world’s largest ballpark net.
The design is by Bjarke Ingels Group, a Danish architecture and design firm with designers and designs from all around the world.
While some have been excited about the project, such as , many others see it joining a long list of never-fully-realized renderings, such as the Atari Hotel in Las Vegas that’s been in construction-limbo since the pandemic.
They’ve also likened it to the Opera House in Sydney, Australia, but this wouldn’t be the first time that the Strip implemented designs inspired by iconic landmarks and it likely won’t be the last.
What are your opinions on this new ballpark in Las Vegas?