INDIANAPOLIS — Officials with Gen Con, the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America, announced Monday that the convention will continue to make Indianapolis its home at least through 2030.

According to a news release from the convention, more than 70,000 people attended Gen Con Indy 2023, which ended Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. Officials estimate that this year’s convention generated around $75 million in economic impact for restaurants, hotels and local businesses.

“The Gen Con attendee experience is continually at the forefront of our decision-making,” David Hoppe, the president of Gen Con, said in the release. “We are excited to announce that Gen Con will be extending its stay in Indianapolis through 2030. I am eager to see the continued growth and success that will come from our partnership with a city that has supported us over the last 20 years.”

There was uncertainty over if Indianapolis would continue to be home to Gen Con. In August 2022, Hoppe told reporters restrictive abortion laws going through the Indiana legislature might force Gen Con to look for a new home.

“Passage of Senate Bill 1 will have an impact on our stakeholders and attendees and will make it more difficult for us to remain committed to Indiana for our long term home,” Hoppe said.

Gen Con declined to comment Monday when asked about Hoppe’s comments last year and what led to a contract extension this year.

Visit Indy was also asked about Hoppe’s 2022 comments and the contract extension. Senior Communications Manager Nate Swick said Gen Con is best to speak to that, but said there was uncertainty on their end about the future of Gen Con in Indy.

”There were several other cities that were competing to get Gen Con and we beat them out thanks to our longstanding history and our commitment and the city comes out like no other for Gen Con,” Swick said.

A “lynch pin” in locking down Gen Con through 2030 was the ground breaking of the Signia by Hilton Hotel and Indiana Convention Center expansion announced last week.

”We just want to make sure we can continue to grow Gen Con here and grow our city so that they don’t have to think about our locations or other destinations,” Swick said.

Gen Con President David Hoppe was there for the groundbreaking. Visit Indy President Leonard Hoops was asked about different convention leaders having concerns over now-passed abortion legislation at that groundbreaking.

“It’s absolutely a group by group response. Some group it is a difference maker, we don’t even get the request for proposal, we can’t bid on it. Other groups, particularly those already contracted, are saying that they’ll continue to meet here,” Hoops said. “They would like to figure out other ways to show their displeasure but they will continue to meet because they don’t want to penalize Indianapolis or the people who work in Indy.”

The Signia by Hilton hotel is scheduled to open in mid-2026. Swick said the goal is for people at Gen Con 2026 to be able to stay there.

This year’s convention featured more than 570 game publishers and vendors, as well as more than 20,000 ticketed events like board and card games, roleplaying games, comedy shows, a film festival and live musical performances. According to the release, nearly $35,000 was raised for Indy Reads and Game Pathways.

Gen Con Indy 2024 is scheduled for Aug. 1-4, 2024. For more information, visit the convention’s website.