As construction continues on the Athletics’ $2 billion ballpark on the former Tropicana site, Bally’s Corp. is awaiting a site plan review from the Federal Aviation Administration on adjacent amenities.
Bally’s also disclosed that it has hired a prominent Las Vegas-based casino designer as the lead architect for the project next to the stadium. Marnell Companies, which has worked on Bellagio, Rio, M Resort and Harrah’s Las Vegas among other Southern Nevada gaming projects, will work on the Bally’s project at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.
Mira Mircheva, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Bally’s, told the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Wednesday that because of the close proximity of Harry Reid International Airport, aviation regulators must weigh in on any development planned for the site where the 33,000-seat stadium is being built, particularly regarding the height of two hotel towers under consideration.
Mircheva said the company is hopeful that a plaza containing retail, dining and entertainment as well as a casino and hotel would be completed by Feb. 29, 2028. The project also would include a 2,500-seat theater and the towers would house a total 3,000 rooms.
The A’s have assured the Las Vegas Stadium Authority that the stadium will open in time for the start of the 2028 baseball season, regardless of what happens with Bally’s amenities.
Mircheva said Bally’s has submitted entitlement applications to Clark County, and the company has been informed that they would be reviewed as soon as there is approval from the FAA.
Mircheva and other Bally’s executives were appearing before the Control Board on a separate unrelated licensing request and board members took advantage of having them present to ask for a stadium site update.
“The podium design is progressing and we’re in active negotiations with potential tenants for retail, entertainment and restaurant venues,” she said. “Marnell Architecture is the architect of record, and we have partnered to secure retail, entertainment and dining partners.
“Obviously the priority is the construction of the stadium, and as we’re waiting for entitlement approval and for the development of the plans that will obviously dictate the timeline, but I would expect amenities to kind of follow the completion of the A’s stadium, hopefully closely.”
Bally’s also is responsible for building a parking garage and a power system and agreed those features are an essential top priority of the project.
Bally’s contracted attorney, Dan Reaser, told board members that two hotel towers are planned, one on the back side of the 35-acre site and one adjacent to Las Vegas Boulevard. The stadium is being built on nine acres.
In recent days, construction workers began installing steel beams as part of the stadium construction.
“Whenever the FAA grants their approval over height restrictions on the hotel towers will also then govern whether we have to change anything on the configuration of the hotel towers,” Reaser said.
The casino also would have a sportsbook, but the company hasn’t determined whether it would operate it or contract it out to a third party.
In other business, the board recommended approval of a series of licenses for a sportsbook at the North Las Vegas Poker Palace casino, which will be operated as Club Fortune Casino North.
Truckee Gaming LLC acquired the Poker Palace in the fall and closed it Oct. 1 for a remodeling project.
Final approval of licensing is expected to be reviewed by the Nevada Gaming Commission on June 25.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.
