Las Vegas: That second tower at the defunct Riviera resort? It's boom time! - Los Angeles Times
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Las Vegas: That second tower at the defunct Riviera resort? It’s boom time!

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In case you missed June’s big bang along the Las Vegas Strip – when the first of the former Riviera resort’s two towers came tumbling down – your second chance is coming up.

The second tower of the famed casino-hotel built more than six decades ago is scheduled for 2 a.m. on Aug. 16.

To catch the implosion, you’ll need to seek out a good vantage point when, with a push of a plunger, explosives strategically placed inside the 17-story Monte Carlo tower (not to be confused with the Monte Carlo resort) will demolish the structure in a matter of seconds.

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The land is being cleared for expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Riviera’s 24-story Monaco Tower was demolished in an early-morning implosion on June 14 amid hoopla that included fireworks. This time, however, officials at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which now owns the property, say no celebrations are planned.

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That doesn’t mean it won’t still be a spectacle.

Crowds always gather along Las Vegas Boulevard and surrounding streets when a piece of Sin City’s past is blown up. Prior to June, Vegas hadn’t seen an implosion since 2007, when the Stardust and New Frontier disappeared from the skyline.

Portions of the Strip are expected to be barricaded for the Monte Carlo tower’s demise. Convention Center Drive and Paradise Road should provide good viewing spots.

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Opened in 1955, the Riviera was then touted as being a whopping nine stories tall. Expansions followed over the decades, with the hotel-casino becoming a showcase for A-list entertainers such as Elvis Presley, Joan Rivers and Steve Martin.

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