Visit Indy announced the National Rifle Association has chosen Indianapolis for its 2014 national convention.

The April 25-27 convention, pegged to be the largest convention in the state’s history, is expected to bring 77,000 visitors and have an economic impact of $55 million. According to Visit Indy’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications Chris Gahl, the city began working with the NRA several years ago and was able to land the convention, in part, because of the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center.

The organization says more than 600 exhibitors will fill more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. The convention will also include seminars and celebrity appearances. There will also be exhibits with collector firearms, knives and wildlife art.

Gahl says the city is aware the event can be “polarizing,” and will likely draw protestors, but says it will be prepared. He says Visit Indy hopes to bring back the convention and its massive impact in future years.

Sources: Visit Indy, National Rifle Association