Will the Winning Bid to ‘Implode Trump Plaza for Charity’ Clear $1 Million?

This week, a new BetOnline prop bet caught my eye.

One of Donald Trump’s former Atlantic City casinos, the Trump Plaza, is scheduled to be imploded next month, and an auction is being held to determine who gets to press the “big red button.”

The winner gets to blow up a building adorning Trump’s name, thus cleansing their palate in preparation for the “return to normalcy” Joe Biden represents to many Democrats.

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The auction has already begun and runs through January 19, 2021 – Donald Trump’s last day in office. As of Friday night, there have been 15 bids; the top offer is currently $60,000, with another month remaining before the deadline.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be rich to get in on the action.

Sure, the honor of pressing the button might be out of your financial reach, but BetOnline’s political oddsmakers have made it possible for people of all income levels to have some skin in the game.

The “Implode Trump Plaza for Charity!” auction is being run by Bodnar’s Auction, with bidding taking place exclusively online.

From the LiveAuctioneers.com Description:

Be Part of Atlantic City’s Past and Future Atlantic City, NJ is famous for its bright lights, boardwalk, and ever-changing personality. Now you have a chance to be part of this city’s colorful history, as it says farewell to Trump Plaza. The 36-year old hotel and casino is scheduled for demolition on January 29, 2021, and bidding is now open to be the one to press the button to start the implosion virtually!

Trump Plaza was one of four Atlantic City hotels and casinos shuttered in 2014. Even before its official closure, the property had fallen into such disrepair that Donald Trump sued its new owners to remove his name from the building. It’s now sat empty for six years, gradually deteriorating.

Earlier this year, one of the hotel towers began literally falling apart. Large pieces of the facade crumbled to the ground. Further damage was done during a recent shore that sent debris raining down on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

So, whoever ultimately wins the auction will be doing the city a massive favor. Trump Plaza has become a public health risk.

A Good Cause

As you can see above, the totals line for this wager is set at $1 million.

That’s a pretty lofty goal if you’re counting on bitterness alone fueling bids. Luckily for political handicappers betting the over, they have something else working in their favor.

City officials are donating the proceeds from the auction to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, a non-profit organization committed to providing services for young children and teens in the area.

“Some of Atlantic City’s iconic moments happened there, but on his way out, Donald Trump openly mocked Atlantic City, saying he made a lot of money and then got out,” said Mayor Marty Small. “I wanted to use the demolition of this place to raise money for charity.”

The auction site details the pivotal role the Boys & Girls Club has played in the community during the pandemic:

The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City has remained open throughout the pandemic, distributing food to families, serving over 150 warm dinners every night, operating summer camp and extending hours to full day care, providing a space for children to attend school remotely, complete with meals, snacks, and educational support. The winning bid will help sustain and grow this organization’s work to prepare Club Kids for a future full of opportunities, revitalizing Atlantic City and building a brighter tomorrow.

According to an NPR report on the auction, the one-million-dollar mark is more than an arbitrary totals line; it’s also the number the city is hoping to hit:

Now, Mayor Small hopes the right to finish it off will draw bids in excess of $1 million. We’ll find out soon: The AP reports that auctioneers will solicit offers through Jan. 19 and assemble the highest bidders for a live auction 10 days later.

I’m Taking the Over

My initial reaction to this betting line was that the winning bid would get nowhere near the $1 million total. I’ve since changed my tune.

As this story gains steam and we get closer to the deadline, the bidding process will intensify. More than anything, I think the way the auction is scheduled will make the difference.

Having the final day to submit bids coincide with Donald Trump’s last day in office was a stroke of genius.

Nobody despises Trump quite like rich celebrities and coastal elites. As we near Joe Biden’s inauguration, an outspoken famous liberal will step in to cover the $1 million total as a kind of celebratory symbolic gesture.

Plus, many affluent athletes and celebrities already donate significant amounts of money to the Boys & Girls Club. For example, Andre Agassi has made the non-profit his charity of choice for years.

Maybe pressing the virtual button on the virtual primer will provide some catharsis for the top bidder. Perhaps after four years of daily teeth-grinding hysteria, watching the empty husk of a once-thriving tourist destination — which happens to bear the name of the man at the center of it all — implode into a heap of rubble, will allow the Americans who need it most to move on to the next stage of US politics.

Probably not, but at least the cash will feed a lot of kids.