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Rosalie Bobby attended the grand opening of Ameristar Casino's new Stadium Sports Bar and Grill on Friday in East Chicago wearing a Cubs jersey, shoes with the Cubs logo and a Cubs purse.

The Schererville woman brought along some baseball cards in hopes of getting former Cubs great and Hall of Famer Andre Dawson to sign one.

"I'm thrilled to have been invited," said Bobby, who said a host at the casino knows she's a big Cubs fan and gave her an invitation to the event, which was highlighted by a ceremonial first catch by Dawson and White Sox legend Carlton Fisk and Chicago Blackhawks singer Jim Cornelison belting out the "Star Spangled Banner" to the roar of fans.

Bobby and other guests of the casino joined executives of Ameristar and its parent company, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland and other local dignitaries in celebrating the grand opening.

The new sports bar is a $3.5 million investment by Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. It features a variety of nostalgic Chicago area sports memorabilia, 40 flat screen TVs that were set to different sporting events and commentaries, 21 draft beers and 50 craft beers and a state-of-the art audiovisual package that includes a sports ticker.

"I think this will take us to the next level. It will be the place to go for a sports bar in Northwest Indiana," said Matt Schuffert, general manager and vice president of Ameristar in East Chicago.

He said the whole experience at the bar, including the food, kicks it up a notch from the previous sports bar located at the same site.

He said the casino will host sporting events, such as boxing matches and pre-game shows.

Schuffert said the Stadium Sports Bar and Grill employs 55 people. The East Chicago casino has around 1,300 employees altogether, casino officials said.

Pinnacle CEO Anthony Sanfilippo said this is the fourth Stadium Sports Bar and Grill among Pinnacle casinos.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

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