Thieves, Pandemic Delay Grand Opening Of Hard Rock Casino In Gary Until 2021

The construction of the new Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana is now experiencing delays.

In January, Spectacle Entertainment initiated construction on the new “Rocksino.” Even the Jackson family returned to their hometown for the groundbreaking event.

Spectacle originally planned a grand opening for New Year’s Eve. However, the plans for the Dec. 31 celebration will now be postponed until 2021.

John Keeler, Spectacle Entertainment’s vice president, hopes to have the casino ready for opening by early next year.

“Frankly, the opening on Dec. 31 is not going to occur. That’s simply how things are. It would be more prudent to predict it’ll happen at some point in the first quarter, depending on circumstances.”

Therefore, despite a few unexpected setbacks, the grand opening of Hard Rock is still forthcoming.

COVID-19, thieves delay construction

While encountering construction delays is common for large projects, the situation of Hard Rock Casino is still quite exceptional.

The coronavirus pandemic caught the US unprepared, and Spectacle was among the numerous companies affected by the health crisis.

Construction at Hard Rock came to a temporary halt in March when businesses started to close down. With all the equipment securely stored in trailers, the construction site was largely inactive.

That is, until a gang of thieves noticed the immobile equipment.

During the weekend of March 27, burglars infiltrated the trailers and made off with approximately $25,000 worth of equipment, including concrete cutters, generators, and various tool sets. The theft was only discovered when the workers came back, but by that time, the equipment had disappeared and construction had to be halted until replacements were procured.

The workers faced challenges in preparing the land for construction. A significant portion of the area was littered with junk, necessitating a lengthy cleanup process to remove old tires and various other debris from the site.

It became evident that due to all the delays, the construction wouldn’t be completed according to the initial schedule.

The Majestic Star will be replaced by a new ‘Rocksino’.

Currently, Gary houses the Majestic Star and Majestic Star II casinos. The pair of aging riverboats are owned by Spectacle Entertainment, who is in the process of replacing them.

The Majestic Star’s casino license is being transferred to Hard Rock in Gary. Conversely, the license for Majestic Star II will eventually be transferred to a Hard Rock establishment under construction near Terre Haute.

The plans for Terre Haute's “Rocksino” were approved by the Indiana Gaming Commission in May, therefore construction on the project will not start for some time. Hard Rock in Gary, on the other hand, is expected to open its doors in early 2021. However, Terre Haute's establishment will not be available for business until later in the fall of the same year.

Despite the timelines, two new Hard Rock-branded casinos will soon be available for gamblers to visit in the Hoosier State.

The casino is likely to attract additional visitors from out of state, including the Chicago area, due to its proximity to the Illinois border. This is a geographic benefit that Ameristar East Chicago and Horseshoe Hammond have capitalized on for years.

Now that sports betting is legal in Illinois, the advantage may not be permanent. However, for the moment, bordering casinos will strive to maximize this opportunity.

The opening of Hard Rock Casino in Gary might be delayed beyond Spectacle’s initial schedule, but once it does open, it is set to be a local attraction for many years.