Venue: Genesis Convention Center
Town: Gary, US
Capacity: 6,500

The Genesis Convention Center was a multi-purpose arena and convention center in downtown Gary, Indiana, United States which has been closed since 2020. Opened in 1981, it features a 24,472 sq ft arena floor with a 49 ft ceiling and the attached "Indiana Hall," a combined theater/ballroom seating about 1,200. It is designed to host up to 7,000 people. Built by the city and designed by Wendell Campbell, the center opened in 1981. It served as a civic, entertainment, and sports hub for Gary and Northwest Indiana. Part of its purpose was to revitalize Gary's economy, which had taken a hit following the decline of the steel industry. In 2018, then mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson described the building as a "drain" of the city of Gary, and sought a buyer, advising that demolition would be too expensive and so putting it up for sale may be the best option. On March 20 of that year, the Gary Common Council voted unanimously to establish an ordinance that would legally vacate Washington Street between 4th and 5th avenues, after discovering that the streets that run underneath the Genesis were never legally vacated when the structure was built in 1981. In October 2020, Akyumen said it would invest $100 million in a project to obtain the Convention Center (and Ivanhoe Gardens properties), where Akyumen had planned to establish its new headquarters and 5G smartphone manufacturing facility. However, this deal did not work out, and ultimately the City of Gary's Redevelopment Commission was obliged to pay $35,000 to have the properties transferred back to the city The Gary Steelheads (IBL/CBA/USBL/IBL) played from 2000 to 2008 at the arena. The Gary Splash (Independent Basketball Association) used it from 2010 until 2013. Miss USA pageant in 2001 and 2002. World Wrestling Federation (WWF) house shows, including a February 27, 1988 card featuring stars like Randy Savage, Iron Sheik, Bret Hart, and others. Concerts by Prince, Whitney Houston, Ludacris, Public Enemy, L.L. Cool J, The 2 L