Officials of Gary, Indiana want to move an inconvenient casino located in Buffington Harbor and make way for a cargo and freight hub.
Officials from the city have met with a committee of the Indiana legislature to present plans for a shipping and transportation facility in Buffington Harbor, right where the Majestic Star Casino is berthed.
John Vickerman of Vickerman and Associates presented the feasibility study to the committee. “I think we have a unique and positive opportunity here to do something that is transformational,” he said.
Senator Eddie Melton, whose district includes Gary, said the facility had a potential to generate economic development for the entire state.
According to Vickerman, 600 million tons of cargo passes through Chicago, and a third of that through the Gary area. This creates an opportunity for intercepting cargo and transferring it faster and a lower cost, he said. “Congestion and delays getting cargo shipments into Chicago could be improved by a facility in Gary,” he said.
He said congestion is becoming a concern in Chicago and that such a facility is needed to alleviate it.
Moving the casino could also boost its revenues by as much as 30 percent, according to Bill Alsup, director of Union Gaming Analytics. The benefits would be spread to a variety of hospitality sectors, such as hotels, restaurants, retail and entertainment.
“Casinos are no longer just about the gaming supply,” he said.
