Hard Rock of Northern Indiana donates $3 million to revitalize downtown Gary
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has donated $3 million to the city of Gary to help revitalize the downtown area.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and Hard Rock Casino President Matt Schuffert announced the $3 million donation. The funds will be used for blight cleanup at the Gary Metro Transit Development Area, which covers mostly the city's Broadway corridor in northwest Indiana.
“Hard Rock is pleased to support Mayor Melton’s mission to improve economic development in the City of Gary by removing blighted properties that currently hinder it,” said Shufter.
The Indiana Hard Rock owner said the donation is consistent with Hard Rock International's "All Is One" campaign, a company motto dating back to 1971 that requires the group to support the communities in which it operates.
"This catalytic donation from Hard Rock marks a new chapter in Gary's story as we begin to turn the page on the pandemic and write our future," Melton added. "In the future, Gary residents will see real change and There is a renewed sense of pride in our downtown Broadway corridor. With this $3 million donation, we are sowing the seeds of hope and growth downtown."
Hard Rock Indiana has 1,700 slot machines, 80 gaming tables and a sportsbook. The hotel also features several restaurants and bars as well as entertainment venues. There is no hotel within the casino.
New Casino, New Owners
Hard Rock Northern Indiana opened in May 2021 at a cost of more than $300 million. The first brick-and-mortar casino in the state’s northwest gaming corridor is a partnership between Florida-based Hard Rock International and Indiana-based Spectacle Entertainment.
Spectacle successfully relocated its two Gary riverboats, the Majestic Star and the Majestic Star II, on Lake Michigan, the second of which was known as the Trump Casino until late 2005, along with the Hard Skirt Located approximately 5 miles inland.
The gaming and hospitality giant owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida bailed out Spectacle as part of a lawsuit over alleged illegal campaign contributions.
The scandal stems from Centaur Gaming, a company owned by Spectacle founder Rod Ratcliff. Former Spectacle and Centaur executive John Keeler was later indicted on federal charges.
Ratcliffe struck a deal with the state that required him to sell his stake in Spectacle and exit the Indiana gaming industry. Hard Rock Group gained 85% control of Spectacle through the dissolution.
Gary needs help
While serving as a state senator, Melton championed legislation to promote economic development in Lake County.
Last year, Melton authored and passed Senate Bill 434, signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), which provides counties where Gary lives with matching grants from public and private donations to eliminate the city’s predicament. Thanks to SB 434, Hard Rock’s $3 million commitment will be matched by the state.
Melton said the first priority is to demolish the Genesis Convention Center parking lot, which has been abandoned for years due to structural integrity issues. The remaining funds will be used to demolish vacant buildings near the convention center.
Gary desperately needs economic revitalization funds like this.
Gary, the birthplace of Michael Jackson, is one of the poorest cities in Indiana. Once the largest steel mill complex in the United States, Gary's population has dropped from nearly 180,000 in the 1960s to less than 70,000, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
The exodus left many buildings vacant and led to severe blight throughout the city. The remaining population had a median household income of just $36,874 from 2018 to 2022.
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Source: www.casino.org
