Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana opens with celeb “Guitar Smash”

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The wait is finally over for the historic city of Gary to finally host a first-class entertainment facility in the form of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, especially considering it’s the home to the world’s most famous musical family.

Brothers Marlon and Tito Jackson of The Jacksons, fellow locals Deniece Williams, Kym Mazelle (Soul II Soul) and Crystal Taliefero (Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp), plus Chicago’s Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy and Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray were amongst the numerous celebrities, executives and city officials who came together for opening day’s “Guitar Smash” festivities.

Shortly thereafter, the doors to the $300 million, 200,000-square foot complex were open to the public for gaming, browsing the mounds of memorabilia, shopping and dining at the Hard Rock Café (amongst several other restaurants), alongside the promise of concerts just as soon as post-pandemic regulations allow.

“Hard Rock Live is a mixed-use live entertainment venue that can seat around 1,900 when it’s in its full set up. It also has the capability of flexing to showcase sporting events and other types of entertainment options as well,” explains Giovanni Taliaferro, director of memorabilia design at Hard Rock International.

“If you’re truly a music fan, [another great part is] just going around, reading all the placards and learning the stories of the pieces that are here. Every property is their own museum and we put an exhibit here that I think is second to none. It’s locally relevant, but you’ll find something for everyone.”

In addition to showcasing the aforementioned artists, there are also artifacts from Midwest mainstays such as Axl Rose, Cheap Trick, Wilco, Blind Melon and Mellencamp (to name but a few), though items belonging to those who grew up at 2300 Jackson Street are easily the main attraction.

“Tito brought my father’s guitar that he learned how to play,” reveals his brother Marlon. “He’s always kept it, so he gave it to the Hard Rock on loan for them to display and some uniforms of ours that we wore back in the day. Then they did a tribute to each family member and you get a chance to walk down and reminisce…[As an artist walking around the Hard Rock], you think about what city you performed in or what television show you were doing. It just brings back memories and togetherness [from] back in those days.”

Beyond the endless opportunities for enjoyment and perhaps some education, the economic benefits are surely going to be astronomical, which is what fellow hometown heroine Williams is particularly excited about.

“I’ve been praying for so many years that something would help the city turn around, and so to see all of this, it’s just incredible,” reflects the “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” singer. “First, it will definitely bring jobs and when people in the surrounding areas know there’s a very elegant, top-notch casino here, that will attract a lot of people…I think that a lot of people will want to see The Jacksons’ home and they’ll come into the casino. I’m hoping and praying that people from all over the world will want to come here.”

For additional information on the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, visit HardRockCasinoNorthernIndiana.com.