Following the announcement that the City of Gary has been selected by the Lake County Board of Commissioners to be the home of the new Lake County Convention Center, Mayor Eddie Melton stated: “This is a historic and monumental day for Gary and all of Lake County.”
The newly greenlit 145,000-square-foot convention center will be located near Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and is designed to strengthen the area’s position as a vibrant, world-class entertainment destination. Situated at the crossroads of America along I-80, between I-294 and I-65, the facility will be ideally located to attract large-scale conferences, trade shows, and premier events from across the nation. “Our vision has always been about creating strong economic opportunities for our community. I thank the Lake County Commissioners for recognizing Gary’s tremendous potential and embracing a future where our entire region thrives together,” Mayor Melton Continued.
“This is a tremendous moment for Lake County,” said President of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana Matt Schuffert. “We are honored to be selected and grateful for everyone who stood with us throughout this bid process. Together, we have the chance to create a world-class destination that generates economic opportunity, creates jobs, drives tourism and supports local businesses.”
The newly greenlit 145,000-square-foot convention center will be located near Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and is designed to strengthen the area’s position as a vibrant, world-class entertainment destination. Situated at the crossroads of America along I-80, between I-294 and I-65, the facility will be ideally located to attract large-scale conferences, trade shows, and premier events from across the nation.
The project will be funded entirely through gaming taxes, state matching funds established by Senate Bill 434, and a $30 million commitment over 20 years from Hard Rock—with no new proposed increase in the innkeeper’s tax. The convention center represents the fruition of Senate Bill 434, authored by then-State Senator Eddie Melton and signed into law by Governor Holcomb in May 2023.
Construction on the project is expected to begin later this year, and partners have made commitments to hiring local workers—including union labor, trade professionals, Indiana vendors, and minority- and women-owned businesses. The development will include an estimated 300-room Hard Rock Hotel and is projected to create hundreds of construction jobs and permanent positions once operational.
“We are excited to partner with the City of Gary and Hard Rock on the new Lake County Convention Center,” stated Managing Principal at AECOM Jeannette Peruchini. “With the project awarded, we are shifting into delivery mode, prioritizing a successful execution plan. Our team is ready to hit the ground running to expedite the project, allowing Lake County to benefit from the new convention center.”
Several organizations have already committed to hosting events at the new facility, including the DJX Show (the largest DJ convention in the country), the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers’ annual convention, Playa Bowls’ Franchisee GM Summit, and the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana’s annual three-day convention.
“This victory wouldn’t have been possible without our exceptional partners at Hard Rock Northern Indiana and AECOM, who believed in our vision,” said Mayor Melton. “But the real heroes are the people of Gary and Northwest Indiana. To everyone who called commissioners, wrote letters, attended meetings, signed petitions, and spread our message—thank you. To our Common Council, elected officials, unions, businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders who stood with us—your support proved what’s possible when we unite. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
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