Demolition crews prepare to bring down Arlington’s old Sheraton Hotel with dynamite

The move will make room for a new hotel.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The countdown is on for the demolition of one of Arlington’s longtime hotel landmarks. Crews have installed fencing around the old Sheraton Arlington Hotel as preparations enter their final stages for Saturday’s implosion.

The property, located in Arlington’s Entertainment District, is expected to come down in less than a minute after demolition experts trigger explosives placed throughout the structure.

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“A lot of dynamite will be put in the building. Then the professionals are going to explode it so that it all comes in,” Loews Hotels & Co. President and CEO Alex Tisch said.

The demolition marks the end of an era for a hotel that has stood near some of North Texas’ biggest attractions for decades. The Sheraton Hotel was built in 1984. For Loews executives, however, the implosion also represents the beginning of the company’s next chapter in Arlington.

Even as crews prepare to bring down the Sheraton, construction is already underway nearby on Americana by Loews, a new luxury hotel development.

“We are already building there. There are some cranes there. They must make sure the hotel falls the right way,” Tisch said.

For months, demolition crews have been stripping the Sheraton’s interior and preparing the structure for the carefully planned implosion. Officials say the demolition requires extensive coordination and precision, especially with thousands of spectators expected to gather to watch.

“It’s going to be very quick. I would hope. The hotel is going to come down. It’s going to be one of those once-in-a-lifetime spectator events,” Tisch said.

Tisch is overseeing one of the nation’s largest privately owned hotel companies. A member of the Tisch family, which controls Loews Corporation, he has spent much of his career in the hospitality industry. Tisch has helped lead the company’s expansion through destination resorts, convention hotels and urban properties across the country. Under his leadership, Loews has continued to grow its portfolio while pursuing major developments, including multiple projects in Arlington’s Entertainment District.

The implosion is a first for Tisch, so he is excited about the demolition experience for his team, which will then turn its focus on their newest venture.

The future Americana by Loews development will feature more than 500 guest rooms, including 39 suites. Plans also call for meeting and event space, including a 10,000-square-foot event barn designed to attract convention and hospitality business.

“This puts us in a competitive set with a lot of hotels in the DFW area, but really in broader hotels in the U.S. market, we think we can take business from,” Tisch said.

Public safety officials have been working alongside Loews and demolition crews to prepare for large crowds expected to gather for the implosion.

Arlington police plan to restrict access around the former Sheraton property with road closures beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday. Rolling traffic stops will also be implemented during the demolition operation.

Officials are encouraging anyone hoping to watch the implosion in person to arrive early.

“One second you will look at the hotel and 45 seconds it will be gone,” Tisch said.

Once the dust settles, work will continue on Americana by Loews, which is expected to open in approximately two and a half years. The project will become Loews’ third hotel in Arlington’s Entertainment District.