Indiana Convention Center expansion proposal excites organizers, businesses

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Convention organizers and downtown business leaders rejoiced after learning of plans released Friday to expand the Indiana Convention Center. 

According to the city’s tourism effort, Visit Indy, the plans could draw more conventions and retain major events. A Visit Indy spokesperson said the Gen Con gaming convention and several other big conventions are outgrowing Indianapolis and have requested additional space. 

Burger Study is a restaurant owned by Huse Culinary. It’s about half a mile from the Indiana Convention Center, and its location is no coincidence. 

“So much of the impact of our business is driven by those conventions,” said Jason Benish, Huse vice president of operations. 

Benish said lines were out the door during Gen Con. Also, the restaurant is seeing an uptick in reservations for next week’s FFA Convention. 

“The repeat clientele we see year after year, they become a huge part of our success,” Benish said. 

Visit Indy said the expansion plans already helped them book one new medical conference, for the American Association of Otolaranology. (Expect lots of physicians who treat ears, noses and throats.)

“You have to be able to say it to book it,” Visit Indy President Leonard Hoops said. 

Hoops said the association booked its conference for 2025 after learning about expansion plans. 

“There are particular vertical markets like medical associations and others that have told us for quite some time ‘You’re just one or two big hotels away’ and kind of density-wise and ballroom space-wise away from being able to host our convention,” Hoops said.