Michigan City (Current) (5,926) Built 1971
March 9, 2024: Warsaw vs. Crown Point (Boys)
March 9, 2024: Warsaw vs. Crown Point (Boys)
There are certain pockets of the state that I haven't yet explored on this journey so far. They're primarily in the southern half of the state as I haven't had much reason to wander in that direction over the course of my 30 years (except to visit the fine folks in Montgomery). I did get to make my first trip to a new region recently to watch some regional basketball, "Da Region" to be exact. I didn't even know that the Chicagoland area that spills over into Indiana had earned this moniker until I started reading many books about the history of Indiana high school basketball. It's a proud area that encompasses Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, and other towns in the very northwest corner of the state. They have a ton of high school basketball heritage, but if you ask anyone from the area, they'll probably tell you they haven't gotten enough recognition for it over the years. Just ask the East Chicago Roosevelt & Washington teams that won back-to-back state titles with undefeated seasons in 1970 and 1971. Michigan City falls into the same category. They're named after another state, but they're as Indiana as they come.
Michigan City Elston was one of the most successful basketball programs in the state since the moment the game made its way to the northern part of Indiana. They were a fixture in the northern regionals from the 20s through the 70s. They had also played in one of the more iconic gyms in the northern part of the state (which can still be seen today as a part of the local YMCA). When Michigan City Rogers opened in 1971, it brought with it a brand new state of the art gym that seated over 7,000 at the time. A new school and gym were a bit foreign to the people of the city, but they soon had no problem filling the massive facility and Rogers had a decent amount of success themselves. Since the schools merged back into one in 1995, they have yet to win a single sectional, even in class basketball. While the local success hasn't been up to the same historical level, the gym itself is still a wonder to behold, and there are few better options to hold a big postseason game in the northen part of the state, which is why it typically is picked as a regional and semi-state site year in and year out.
I don't usually like to start with the negative in these descriptions, and to many people this won't even be a negative probably, but the first thing that struck me walking into Michigan City's gym is that it feels like a college arena more than any other high school gym I've been in. I can't even tell you exactly what it is. It's not just the set up or the new plastic bleachers, Richmond and Jeff are both very similar and I don't get the same vibe when visiting those. The giant plasma screen TV's in the four corners of the bottom section showing the action may have something to do with it, but it just feels more "big time." Once I got past that though, it became obvious what makes this place so beloved. Getting the obvious out of the way, yes they did just replace the miles of gorgeous wood bleachers with blue plastic and in doing so wrecking a grand visual and losing over 1,000 seats, but it's still a spectacle to behold. The lower level has seating on all four sides going up about 15 rows all the way around. All four corners have big open entry areas where the ridiculous and unnecessary TV's sit above (seriously who is watching these? There isn't a bad seat in the house). The court also got a recent remodel and has a simple light wood color throughout with navy blue inside the foul lane. A giant wolf head takes over center court which is fine. It looks like a modern NBA logo design. Slightly cooler are the interlocking "M" and "C" written along each sideline. "Michigan City" is written in big, white block letters on each baseline.
The only thing that was originally keeping Michigan City from challenging Seymour and New Castle for the biggest high school gym on Earth was the lack of upper level seating behind the baseline. There are a measly three rows of pullout bleachers in these sections. They were rolled up for the regional games so they could put a lot of press tables out for media. Looking at the brand new rolled up bleachers, the three-rowed sections looked cockeyed and almost warped. The wood material looked like the garbage you have to sort through at Lowes when trying to find some decent lumber. All the more reason to stick with what you have until you absolutely have to change it. They don't make them like they used to, am I right? With that being said, the views from the upper levels of the sideline sections are breathtaking. They go up another 15-18 rows and you feel like you're on another planet, but still have a good view of the action. One weird thing I noticed while I was up there though was the actual walls of the gym. They are covered with panels of what I can best describe as grey fiberboard. The texture is like if someone covered it with fossilized silly string. It doesn't look great. There isn't a ton to look at in the rafters or on the walls. There are a few vinyl athletic accomplishment banners hanging from the ceiling. A really nice mural that was painted on wood and then hung on the fiberboard walls above one baseline is pretty eyecatching. It has a wolf mascot standing next to a lighthouse in the waters of Lake Michigan. On the other baseline wall you'll find one of the more eye-popping conference team displays I've seen in awhile for the Duneland conference.
If you come in the front entrance to the gym, you'll find some really wonderful displays honoring the past teams and traditions of Michigan City Rogers and Elston and all the great players that have passed through over the years. From Dan Palombizio to the immortal Delray Brooks, a lot of history is held in this gym (my favorite memorabilia piece was an old NIC conference team display). There's a bit of a contrast when taking in the essence of the gym as a whole. The remodel gives it one of the more modern feels I've experienced almost anywhere, yet there's a twinge of dinginess to the whole thing. Maybe it all fit together more cohesively before the revamp. Alas, I will never know. Nevertheless, it's still one of the premier places to take in a big game with a big crowd.
