Gary highlights trusted Hard Rock partnership in pitch for Lake County Convention Center
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Rendering of Gary’s pitch for a Lake County Convention Center. (Graphic provided, city of Gary)
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Rendering of Gary’s pitch for a Lake County Convention Center. (Graphic provided, city of Gary)
When Senate Enrolled Act 434 made state money available for developing a new convention center in Lake County, Eddie Melton had Gary in mind.
Melton was a state senator at the time and championed the bill as an economic tool for Gary, but the measure was changed during the legislative process to open up bids for the convention center across Lake County. Funding for the convention center will come out of taxes generated by Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary as well as the ability to raise the county’s Innkeepers Tax from 5% to 10%.
Hobart is the other finalist for the convention center.
Now, as mayor of Gary, Melton finds himself back at square one as he advocates for the city’s plan to add on a 145,000-square-foot convention center to the Hard Rock Casino off of Insterstate-94.
His pitch centers on proven commodities: A partnership with Hard Rock—a company that’s shown it can operate large centers in the community—for a project that’s already one of the most popular sites in northwest Indiana.
“We have all the built in infrastructure. the built-in assets to make this successful. It’s a bonus that the Hard Rock has already proven, because of its success financially, that the market is there. We don’t have to recreate the wheel,” Melton said.
In Gary’s proposal, the convention center itself would go just southwest of the Hard Rock Casino on what is now a parking lot. A 300-room hotel would be connected to the casino and a walkway would connect the convention center with that hotel.
Directly across 29th street to the south, the Hard Rock owns land that could see two additional 200-room hotels and other commercial space. Around the convention center are parking lots, but Melton said those provide the opportunity for future build outs to the convention center if needed.
A little to the east is a 90-acre county park, which Melton said the city is in discussions to improve in some capacity.
Central to Gary’s pitch is Hard Rock’s involvement. The entertainment conglomerate would operate the convention center and Melton said an international brand that has already proven to be a good corporate citizen to the community sets Gary’s pitch apart.
“They’re a well-established brand that’s trusted,” Melton said. “We don’t have to wait to identify a partner to get the staffing up to speed to manage and operate a convention center. Everything that a convention center needs to be successful the Hard Rock is already doing on that footprint.”
Melton added the city did put out a request for proposals to find a partner for the project, but Hard Rock was the only respondent. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana President Matt Schuffert was unable to speak to a reporter before this story’s deadline.
Melton said he’s hopeful the county commissioners make their decision either by early next year. He said the construction process on the first phase of the convention center will take approximately 18 months if approved.
“The designers were very intentional in honoring the history of Gary and Lake County…the structure of the canopy [on the convention center] is kind of a nod to the steel industry and honoring the hardworking men and women in that field,” Melton said. “The rooftop is also an amenity, we don’t have many rooftops in northwest Indiana.”
While the bill that earmarks funding for the convention center also sets aside dollars for a transit hub and blight removal initiatives in downtown Gary, Melton said the convention center would mean a lot to the community as it continues its rebuilding process.
“This would add to all the other great things taking place,” Melton said, pointing to Indiana Dunes National Park, the South Shore train line’s recently-completed double tracking project and the city’s redevelopment efforts. “All of that is already there. We’re looking to grow that more and promote Gary more in the state and the region.”
Editor’s note: Inside INdiana Business is highlighting the two pitches on the table for the Lake County Convention Center. To read about Hobart’s plan, click here. For more details on both proposals, click here.