Certain individuals eager to profit were attempting to sell Tropicana merchandise on resale platforms for hundreds of dollars.
What's the value of a custom disposable plastic water bottle? According to a seller on eBay, it's priced at $999.99.
Why the steep price tag? It's all about the 10-ounce bottle bearing the Tropicana label, once synonymous with the glitz and glamour of Rat Pack-era Vegas, but now shuttered after nearly seven decades on the Strip.
The exorbitant cost of this water bottle mirrors a social trend surrounding the closure of the iconic casino. People are eager to own a piece of Sin City's history, leading to a frenzy for the last remaining Tropicana-branded merchandise.
Reports from ABC’s Las Vegas affiliate indicate a rush on official Tropicana swag, with on-site gift shops depleted of branded items during the casino's final days. Entrepreneurs capitalized on this demand by reselling Tropicana merchandise at inflated prices on various online platforms.
Currently, eBay listings feature a range of Tropicana memorabilia, from a $110 football jersey to vintage T-shirts priced at $400. Other items include gambling chips, slot machine cards, napkins, dice, playing cards, menus, corkscrews, hats, lapel pins, and brochures.
Etsy also showcases Tropicana relics, such as matchbooks selling for $31 and ashtrays at various prices, including a weathered model priced at nearly $24. Vintage hats proclaiming the Tropicana as the “Island of Las Vegas” are also up for grabs.
The demand for Tropicana merchandise and the inflated prices on resale platforms underscore a recurring theme: what was once ordinary branded merchandise can evolve into cherished mementos of a bygone era.
Despite sentimental attachments, the Tropicana's closure signals progress for some Las Vegas leaders and Bally’s, the casino's owner. The site is slated for redevelopment, with plans for the Oakland Athletics to relocate and build a new stadium, while Bally’s intends to construct a new casino resort.
The story of the A’s relocation further highlights the enduring allure of branded merchandise and its power to evoke nostalgia and capture the essence of a place and time.