Rendering of proposed Convention Center.
A growing movement in support of a proposed Lake County Convention Center in Gary has sparked sharp opposition from Hammond and East Chicago officials, igniting a regional debate over where the transformative project should be located.
At the center of the discussion is a $150 million proposal to build a 145,000-square-foot state-of-the-art convention center adjacent to the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. The Gary proposal has drawn strong backing from business leaders, unions, community organizations and national event planners who view the location as a gateway for revitalizing Northwest Indiana’s tourism and hospitality industries.
Four major organizations have already expressed formal commitments to host events at the Gary site. These include the DJX Show—America’s largest DJ convention—along with the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Playa Bowls Franchisee GM Summit and the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana. Together, these events are projected to generate thousands of hotel room nights and significant tourism-related spending. “These organizations see the potential here. They’re ready to choose Gary – and that sends a strong message about the caliber of opportunity this convention center brings, not just for our city but for all of Lake County,” said Gary Mayor Eddie Melton in a statement issued April 16.
Despite the momentum, the plan has met with resistance. At a recent Hammond City Council meeting, members passed a resolution urging the Lake County Board of Commissioners to delay selecting a location. “The Common Council of the City of Hammond hereby strongly requests that the Lake County Commissioners do not select a location for a Lake County Convention Center at this time as it does not make economic sense,” the resolution read. The resolution, sponsored by Councilman Scott Rakos, also argued the proposal potentially subsidizes one casino at the expense of another, specifically Horseshoe Hammond, which has seen declining revenues in recent years.
According to reporting by The Post-Tribune, Councilman Barry Tyler Jr. was the lone vote against the resolution. Tyler said he felt the project might benefit Hammond and encouraged Mayor Tom McDermott to meet with Gary and Hobart officials. “This could be an opportunity to provide additional revenue to our city with some type of partnership agreement,” Tyler said, as quoted by The Post-Tribune.
MAYOR ANTHONY COPELAND
Mayor Melton responded with a pointed statement defending Gary’s leadership in regional development. He noted that Gary was the first city in Northwest Indiana to secure gaming legislation in the late 1980s, a move that later benefited neighboring cities. “For 20 years, Gary had to compete while sandwiched between two other casino municipalities. Throughout those two decades, Gary never received subsidies from neighboring cities,” Melton said. He also took issue with claims made by McDermott, stating, “Mayor McDermott is spreading misinformation, claiming that we never spoke and that Gary and Hard Rock are looking to ‘murder’ Hammond—this is simply not the case. In fact, it’s a straight-up lie.”
Melton emphasized that the convention center would not require any local tax increases. Senate Bill 434, which he authored in 2023 as a state senator, created a funding mechanism that relies entirely on increased wagering tax revenue from Hard Rock Casino. Hard Rock has also pledged $30 million over 20 years to support the project and stated that local union labor, along with minority- and women-owned businesses, will be prioritized for contracts.
Support for the convention center continues to grow. Organizations such as the Gary NAACP, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Gary Firefighters Association, and the Urban League of Northwest Indiana have all voiced public endorsements. “It’s going to bring needed funds into the city and that’ll just help everything – more equipment, more officers, building roads, you name it,” said Del Stout, president of the Gary Fraternal Order of Police. “The area is ripe for development,” he said in a video message released as part of an educational campaign. Gary Firefighters Association President Kevin Benford added, “This will be the first time we’re actually going to have a chance, and we can be proud of our city.”
Meanwhile, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Phil Taillon urged unity and a broader vision for regional development. Speaking at a Crossroads Chamber of Commerce meeting, Taillon said the tourism industry already generates $1.24 billion annually in Lake County. He projected that a new convention center could add $4 million in direct revenue, $25 million more in hospitality growth, and $74 million in annual economic impact. “It’s important for us to not block each other,” Taillon said, according to The Northwest Times. “Sometimes in Lake County we have a tendency to not work together. This is an important one to work together on.”
Taillon also addressed questions about alternate locations, including the idea of placing the center at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville. “The Radisson did not submit a proposal for a convention center,” he noted in his remarks, as reported by The Northwest Times. He emphasized that both Gary’s site and a competing proposal in Hobart have their strengths, but stressed that success depends on who was willing to do the work to submit and back a viable plan.
Currently, the Lake County Board of Commissioners is weighing two proposals: Gary’s site adjacent to Hard Rock Casino and another location at Patriot Park in Hobart near U.S. 30. No proposal has yet been formally approved. Of the two, only Gary’s plan has secured confirmed financial commitments, community support, and formal letters of intent from convention organizers.
In the meantime, Gary officials continue to rally community engagement. Over 500 individuals have signed petitions of support, and 60 vendors have expressed interest in participating in the project. The city also launched a campaign encouraging residents to contact county commissioners and voice support.
“We’re on the brink of something powerful,” Mayor Melton said. “The Lake County Convention Center has the potential to redefine our region’s future—attracting visitors, energizing our economy and putting Lake County on the map as a premier destination.”
A recent op-ed written by Gary, Indiana Mayor Eddie Melton presents the city’s defense and direct response to opposition from East Chicago and Hammond. Read it on page 3.