NDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (NETWORK INDIANA): Indianapolis convention planners hope the city’s largest convention will help reel in more big ones.

When the Gen Con game convention begins on Thursday, it’ll spill over for the first time into Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s not the first convention to use the stadium.  The Fire Department Instructors Conference used the stadium to exhibit equipment.

But Gen Con draws 60 percent more visitors than even the FDIC, and Visit Indy is hoping it can lure other supersized conventions by demonstrating Indianapolis has the space to handle them.

Senior vice president Chris Gahl says representatives of “two or three” conventions are expected in town during Gen Con to see how the combination of the stadium and convention center handles the hordes of costumed warriors, space rangers and zombies. He calculates Indy has the space for three-quarters of all conventions, but needs to prove that firsthand.

An underground tunnel links the stadium to the convention center. Gahl says the distance is about the same as from the convention center to the J-W Marriott, which connects through above-ground enclosed walkways.

GenCon will stage its “True Dungeon” event on the Colts’ home field, with flooring replacing the artificial turf.

The conference starts on Thursday, August 4.