Tropicana resort imploded in Las Vegas making way to A's stadium

The 67-year-old Tropicana gambling casino and hotel on the Las Vegas Strip was demolished by more than 2,000 pounds of explosives last week to make way for a proposed $1.5 billion baseball stadium for the Athletics Major League Baseball team. When the $15 million Tropicana opened in 1957, it was the most expensive Las Vegas resort up to that point. Like many other Las Vegas casinos at the time, it was linked to the Mob which skimmed millions in gaming profits.

Class discussion: Las Vegas will become the fourth home city for the Athletics. Where have they played since the team was formed in 1860? Many professional sports franchises have switched cities. Where did your favorite teams originate? The Athletics will be the fourth professional team in Las Vegas, the nation’s longtime sports betting capital. How have attitudes changed about sports betting? Does the rapid growth of online gambling endanger sports? Are players being threatened by gamblers?