Anyone hoping to get a good view of the Trump Plaza implosion should get to Bader Field early, officials said Wednesday, as they gave the latest updates on the long-shuttered casino's end.
The final countdown is set for 9 a.m. next Wednesday.
For safety, the city has set up an exclusion zone, which will be evacuated hours before the implosion.
It will go from Georgia to Arkansas avenues beginning at Atlantic Avenue onto the beach. The area will be blocked off on the Boardwalk and beach.
There will also be a half-mile no-fly zone over the building. The nearby hospital will be monitored so that any medevacs will not be impacted.
"We don’t want anyone near the downtown area," Mayor Marty Small said.
That's why the mayor chose to open up Bader Field for people to come in their cars and watch.
"The view for there is going to be spectacular," said police Capt. Rudy Lushina, who is the incident commander for the event.
The gates will open at 7 a.m. Feb. 17, charging $10 per vehicle.
Small explained that a fee of at least $10 but no more than $20 is required for any events at the field.
Those who attend can leave their vehicles, but must wear masks and keep within the area where they park.
At least 4,500 vehicles can fit on the field while still maintaining social distancing, Lushina estimated.
Ten people will have special seats at One Atlantic Events, after an auction for those spots replaced the canceled auction for someone to be able to push the button for the implosion.
Nearly $17,000 was raised for the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club between the winners and a $10,000 donation from the Hard Rock. Five of the winners also received dinner and an overnight stay at the Hard Rock, with the other five getting dinner and a room at Ocean Resort.
"It's the end of an era and beginning of something new that will hopefully go up there soon to make us proud," City Council President George Tibbitt said.
Small again reiterated that the implosion and viewing events surrounding it are not about the former president whose name the building bears.
The former Boys and Girls Club kid also encouraged more donations to the group beyond that raised by the auction and a donation by the property owner, Carl Icahn, after his group called an end to the button-pushing money-raiser citing safety issues.
Checks can be sent to the club at 317 N. Pennsylvania Ave. or online at www.acbgc.com. For more information, call 609-347-BOYS (2697).
