Officials at Hard Rock International have told the Indiana Gaming Commission a hotel will not be built at the $300 million Hard Rock Northern Indiana in Gary as anticipated, despite the success of the venue, which opened on May 14, 2021.
Hard Rock International Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas said, “Unfortunately, with the economic uncertainty right now, we’ve paused that.” He added tight capital markets and high construction costs make it challenging to build a Hard Rock Hotel now. However, Lucas noted, Hard Rock eventually will develop a multi-story hotel at the Gary venue, and is in fact acquiring nearby acreage to replace parking that will be eliminated to make room for the added development.
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana President Matt Schuffert noted
Hard Rock has spent $7.2 million in capital improvements since the Gary facility opened. Those include converting part of the Fresh Harvest buffet into 1,200 square feet of additional gaming space with 65 slot machines, bringing the total to 1,719. That gives Hard Rock more slots than any other commercial casino in Indiana, Schuffert said.
In addition, Schuffert said the casino has improved sound and lighting and added a large video wall in the 2,700-person Hard Rock Live performance space. A new cashier cage was added at the casino’s baccarat gaming area, he said.
Schuffert noted Hard Rock has been the state’s top earning casino for 14 consecutive months, taking over the top spot from Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. It also outperformed the Majestic Star Casinos on Lake Michigan, which Hard Rock replaced with a land-based facility adjacent to the interstate.
Schuffert said compared to Majestic Star’s payments before Covid-19, Hard Rock Gary generated $270 million in additional revenue and paid a total of $119 million in gaming taxes to Indiana, a 305 percent increase, according to state figures.
Hard Rock employs 1,478 team members, of whom 29 percent live in Gary and 85 percent reside in Indiana. More than 70 percent of team members who transferred to Hard Rock from Majestic still are on the job, earning at least $18 per hour, Schuffer said.
Meanwhile, officials at Churchill Downs, owners of the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort, told commissioners the venue’s cost now is estimated at $290 million, up from $260 million. Ryan Jordan, Churchill Downs’ senior vice president of real estate development, said, “We have not made any program changes nor reduced amenities, but we have added amenities. We are excited about it and continue to move forward.”
Jordan said the casino will feature 1,000 slots, 34 gaming tables, a high-limit area and VIP lounge. Nine food and beverage options will include a soda shop based on the iconic Coca-Cola bottle invented in Terre Haute, steakhouse, casual and grab-and-go dining areas, lobby bar and a sports bar. Other amenities will include a pool, event center and outdoor gaming area, Jordan said.
He also reported initial construction work has begun at the casino site, including foundations, footings and retention ponds. The company is waiting for Department of Homeland Security approval before construction can start on the buildings.
