Ice District#Grand Villa Casino Edmonton

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Ice District

|other_name = Edmonton Arena District

|settlement_type = Mixed-use sports and entertainment district

|image_skyline = EdmontonDowntownFromVictoriaSchool.jpg

|image_caption = Downtown Edmonton with the Stantec Tower, and JW Marriott Hotel.

|pushpin_map = Canada Edmonton

|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Ice District in Edmonton

|image_dot_map =

|coordinates = {{coord|53.5454|N|113.4966|W|region:CA-AB|display=inline,title}}

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = Canada

|subdivision_type1 = Province

|subdivision_name1 = Alberta

|subdivision_type2 = City

|subdivision_name2 = Edmonton

|subdivision_type3 = Quadrant

|subdivision_name3 = NW

|subdivision_type4 = Ward

|subdivision_name4 = O-day’min

|subdivision_type5 = Neighbourhoods

|subdivision_name5 = Downtown and Central McDougall

|government_footnotes =

|leader_title = Mayor

|leader_name = {{Edmonton City Council|mayor}}

|leader_title1 = Administrative body

|leader_name1 = Edmonton City Council

|leader_title2 = Councillor

|leader_name2 = {{Edmonton City Council|6}}

|website = {{official URL}}

}}

Ice District is a $2.5 billion mixed-use sports and entertainment district being developed on {{convert|10|ha|acre}} of land in Downtown Edmonton and a portion of the neighbourhood of Central McDougall. Its main attraction is Rogers Place, the home arena of the Edmonton Oilers professional ice hockey team. When completed the area will be Canada's largest mixed-use and entertainment district.{{cite web|title=A Vibrant World-Class Destination|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/|website=ICE District Properties|publisher=ICE District Properties|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928103521/http://icedistrictproperties.com/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/edmonton-warms-up-to-chilly-reputation-with-new-ice-district/article25496370/|title=Edmonton warms up to chilly reputation with new Ice District|author=Marty Klinkenberg|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2017-02-01}} The developers of the district are the Katz Group{{cite web|title=Katz Group - Real Estate|url=http://www.katzgroup.ca/|website=Katz Group|publisher=Katz Group|access-date=April 28, 2016}} and the ONE Development Group.{{cite web|title=Developer Information|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/vision/developer-info.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022095446/http://icedistrictproperties.com/vision/developer-info.html|archive-date=2016-10-22|website=Ice District Properties|publisher=ICE District JV Inc.|access-date=April 28, 2016}}{{cite web|title=ONE Ice District|url=http://oneproperties.com/ice-district/|website=ONE Development|publisher=ONE Development Group|access-date=January 31, 2017}} On July 13, 2015, it was announced that the area of the city surrounding the arena from 101 and 104 Street to 103 and 106 Avenue would be referred to as "Ice District"{{snd}} a name created by Daryl Katz.{{cite news|title='Milestone announcement' for Edmonton expected|first=Stewart|last=Shaw|url=http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/milestone-announcement-for-edmonton-expected-1.2466690|newspaper=CTV Edmonton|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Oilers CEO says Ice District a 'crisp and clean' new name for arena district|first=Bill|last=Mah|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/commercial-real-estate/meet+cold+District+Edmonton+Area/11210320/story.html|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=July 14, 2015}}

Landmarks and attractions

=Rogers Place=

File:Ice District Construction - July 2017 - (36228354735).jpg

Rogers Place, the home arena for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, is the main attraction of the district. Opened on September 8, 2016, it seats 18,500 people for hockey games.{{cite web|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/07/28/from-above-and-around-edmontons-rogers-place-arena-construction|title=From above and around Edmonton's Rogers Place arena construction|author=Claire Theobald|work=Edmonton Sun|access-date=2017-02-01}} The cost of the arena was around $480 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/rogers_place/the-agreement.aspx|title=The Agreement|work=City of Edmonton|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016053828/https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/rogers_place/the-agreement.aspx|archive-date=2016-10-16}}

=Ford Hall=

The winter garden, named Ford Hall, is a {{convert|4,200|m2|adj=on}} climate-controlled facility that spans 104 Avenue. It is a public gathering space and connects the Edmonton LRT system with the grand entrance of Rogers Place. {{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} There will also be a pedway connection to the new JW Marriott Edmonton hotel. It opened on September 8, 2016, at a cost of $56.5 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/03/18/downtown-edmonton-arena-winter-garden-renderings|title=Downtown Edmonton arena: Winter Garden renderings|author=Kevin Maimann|work=Edmonton Sun|access-date=2017-02-01}}

=Public plaza=

There is a {{convert|4,600|m2|adj=on}} public plaza first opened to the public for the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs and is nicknamed the "Moss Pit" by fans after the late Joey Moss.{{cite web|title=Public Plaza|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/amenities/public-plaza|website=ICE District Properties|publisher=ICE District Properties|access-date=January 31, 2017}}

=Fan Park=

The Baccarat Casino was demolished in 2020 and was replaced by a small dog park and a 5000-person paved tarmac event centre called the Fan Park.

=Community arena=

The Edmonton Downtown Community Arena is the home arena of the MacEwan University Griffins hockey teams, and hosts practices for the Oilers and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. It has a seating capacity of 1000.{{cite web|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/amenities/rogers-place.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012193815/http://icedistrictproperties.com/amenities/rogers-place.html|archive-date=2016-10-12|title=Rogers Place|work=Ice District}}

=Grand Villa Casino Edmonton=

File:Edmonton ICE District Grand Villa Casino (42525408655).jpg

The Grand Villa Casino Edmonton opened on September 7, 2016, and is owned by Gateway Casinos. The casino is next to Rogers Place in the Ice District. The {{convert|5,600|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} facility cost $32 million. It replaced the adjacent Baccarat Casino, which operated from 1996 to 2016 and was demolished in 2020.{{cite news|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/new-grand-villa-casino-officially-opens-near-downtown-arena|title=New Grand Villa Casino officially opens near downtown arena|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910184218/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/new-grand-villa-casino-officially-opens-near-downtown-arena/|archive-date=September 10, 2016|author=Dave Lazzarino|work=Edmonton Journal|accessdate=February 1, 2017}}
- {{cite news |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/local-business/the-house-busts-demolition-of-baccarat-casino-begins-in-downtown-edmonton/ |title=The house busts: Demolition of Baccarat Casino begins in downtown Edmonton |date=February 7, 2020 |work=Edmonton Journal}}

The {{convert|2,800|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} gaming space includes 600 slot machines and 28 table games. The casino has three restaurants.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/grand-villa-casino-open-for-business-in-downtown-edmonton-1.3752585 |title=Grand Villa Casino open for business in downtown Edmonton |website=CBC.|date=September 7, 2016}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.gatewaycasinos.com/gateway-casinos-entertainment-opens-doors-at-the-new-spectacular-grand-villa-edmonton-in-ice-district/ |title=Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Opens Doors at the New, Spectacular Grand Villa Edmonton in ICE District |date=September 7, 2016 |publisher=Gateway Casinos}}

In 2019, Gateway Casinos laid off staff and reduced operations to Thursdays through Sundays and when major events were held at Rogers Place. The casino sought to prioritize business on days with greater foot traffic.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Extended downtown casino closures cost province, Edmonton charities millions |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/grand-villa-casino-closures-cost-edmonton-charities-province-millions-1.6644775 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=CBC News}}{{Cite web |title=Grand Villa Casino axes almost 50 full-time employees: union |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/grand-villa-casino-lays-off-dozens-of-employees-union |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}} The casino suspended operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and did not reopen until July 2022; following the reopening, as directed by a licence amendment by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), the casino returned to operating seven days per week as with all other Alberta casinos. Gateway successfully had the condition blocked, but the casino continued to operate seven days per week.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-20 |title=Grand Villa Casino Edmonton Reopens After Long Closure |url=https://www.playcanada.com/news/grand-villa-casino-edmonton-reopens/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Play Canada |language=en-CA}}

Public transportation

=Pedways=

The Edmonton Pedway is being expanded with additions to Edmonton Tower, Stantec Tower, JW Marriott Edmonton, and Rogers Place, linking them to the existing system by elevated and underground pedways.{{cite web|title=Ice District Pedway's|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/upload/gallery_item/36/d583834cc210/urbancontextinfluences-ice-district-pedway-150707.1000.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022095348/http://icedistrictproperties.com/upload/gallery_item/36/d583834cc210/urbancontextinfluences-ice-district-pedway-150707.1000.jpg|archive-date=2016-10-22|website=Icedistrictproperties|publisher=ICE DISTRICT JV Inc.|access-date=April 19, 2016|format=jpg}}{{cite news|last1=Lamphier|first1=Gary|title=Lamphier: It's Pedwaytropolis! City's pedway network to undergo big expansion|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/lamphier+pedwaytropolis+city+pedway+network+undergo+expansion/11004435/story.html|access-date=April 19, 2016|agency=Edmonton Journal|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc.|date=April 24, 2015}}

=Parking facilities=

With the new development about 4,000 new parking spaces are being created.{{cite web|title=EDA Office Tower|url=http://oneproperties.com/edmonton-tower/|website=ONE Properties|publisher=ONE Development Group|access-date=April 19, 2016}} As well there will be 5,000–10,000 within a 5-to-10-minute walk from the arena and public plaza.{{cite web|title=Parking Facilities|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/upload/gallery_item/38/1432772b1304/urbancontextinfluences-ice-district-parking-150707.1000.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022095518/http://icedistrictproperties.com/upload/gallery_item/38/1432772b1304/urbancontextinfluences-ice-district-parking-150707.1000.jpg|archive-date=2016-10-22|website=Icedistrictproperties|publisher=ICE DISTRICT JV Inc.|access-date=April 19, 2016}} Major roads include 104 Avenue, 101 Street, and 105 Street.

=Transit=

The district's main public transportation is handled through the Edmonton Transit Service bus routes (ETS) and Edmonton LRT.{{cite web|title=Department — Transportation Services|url=http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/PDF/2016-2018%20Operating%20Budget%20Transportation%20Services.pdf|website=Edmonton.ca|publisher=City of Edmonton|access-date=April 19, 2016}} The main LRT station is MacEwan station, just north of Rogers Place.{{cite web|url=http://www.rogersplace.com/ead-joint-venture-announces-gateway-casinos-entertainment-as-new-addition-to-the-edmonton-arena-district/|title=EAD joint venture announces Gateway Casinos & Entertainment as new addition to the Edmonton arena district|author=Rogers Place|work=Rogers Place|date=13 April 2015|access-date=2017-02-01}} With the pedway system additions, four LRT stations will have direct access: MacEwan, Bay/Enterprise, Central, and Churchill stations. A number of Strathcona County Transit and St. Albert Transit bus routes also serve the district.{{cite web|title=Media Kit|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/upload/media_element/2/da9dc5dc07a5/ice-district-media-kit-150713.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402194002/http://icedistrictproperties.com/upload/media_element/2/da9dc5dc07a5/ice-district-media-kit-150713.pdf|archive-date=2016-04-02|website=Icedistrictproperties|publisher=ICE DISTRICT JV Inc.|access-date=April 19, 2016}}

Office and residential towers

File:Ice District - Edmonton - July 2017 (35460177744).jpg

Three new office buildings were/are being constructed in the district, as well as a hotel with private residences above. The City of Edmonton Tower with 29 floors and a height of {{convert|129.8|m}} opened in December 2016, with construction coming to an end in 2017.{{cite web|title=EAD Office Tower 1|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1218841/ead-office-tower-1-edmonton-canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502020325/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1218841/ead-office-tower-1-edmonton-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 2, 2015|website=Emprois|publisher=Emporis GNBH.|access-date=April 19, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1404353/edmonton-skyline-to-change-with-construction-of-new-tower/|title=Edmonton skyline to change with construction of new tower|author=Slav Kornik|work=Global|access-date=2017-02-01}} Stantec Tower has 66 floors and a height of {{convert|250.8|m}}.{{cite web|title=Stantec Tower|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1236689/stantec-tower-edmonton-canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428053927/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1236689/stantec-tower-edmonton-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 28, 2015|website=Emporis|publisher=Emporis|access-date=February 29, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Stantec Headquarters|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=104164|website=skyscraperpage.com|publisher=Skyscraper Source Media|access-date=April 19, 2016}} The combined JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District & Residences{{cite web|title=Phase One X:2017-2020 #11 Legends Private Residences|url=http://icedistrict.com/|website=icedistrict.com|publisher=ICE District JV Inc.|access-date=April 19, 2016}} has 55 floors and a height of {{convert|192.15|m}},{{cite web|title=JW Marriott Hotel & Legends Private Residences|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1236690/jw-marriott-hotel-legends-private-residences-edmonton-canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419093532/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1236690/jw-marriott-hotel-legends-private-residences-edmonton-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 19, 2016|website=Emporis|publisher=Emporis|access-date=April 19, 2016}} was completed in June 2019.{{cite web|title=JW Marriott Hotel & Legends Private Residences|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1236690/jw-marriott-hotel-legends-private-residences-edmonton-canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419093532/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/1236690/jw-marriott-hotel-legends-private-residences-edmonton-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 19, 2016|website=Emporis|publisher=Emporis GMBH.|access-date=23 March 2022}}

=Stantec Tower=

Stantec Tower, the headquarters of Stantec, is the tallest building in Edmonton, and the tallest building in Canada west of Toronto at a height of {{convert|250.8|m}}.{{cite web|title=The @Stantec Tower permit confirms 250.8m, 66 stories, 454 resi. units. Tallest building west of #Toronto! #yegdt|url=https://twitter.com/declorg/status/642376194109796352|website=Twitter|publisher=Downtown Edmonton Community League|access-date=February 29, 2016}} Thirty-three storeys will be dedicated towards residential units.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/62-storey-tower-to-be-built-in-downtown-edmonton-1.2747702|title=62-storey tower to be built in downtown Edmonton|author=CBC|work=CBC|access-date=2017-02-01}}

=Edmonton Tower=

File:Edmonton Tower Sep2016.jpg

The Edmonton Tower is a 29-storey, {{convert|129.84|m||adj=mid|-tall}} office building. It was topped-out in early spring 2016 and completed in December 2016. City of Edmonton staff began moving to the tower in November 2016.{{cite news|last1=Lazzarino|first1=Dave|title=City offers first glimpse inside the workspaces of the new Edmonton Tower|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/city-offers-first-glimpse-inside-the-workspaces-of-the-new-edmonton-tower|access-date=December 16, 2016|agency=Edmonton Journal|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc.|date=December 15, 2016}} It is Edmonton's eighth tallest building.{{cite web|title=Tallest building in Edmonton|url=http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/100995/edmonton-canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715233736/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/100995/edmonton-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 15, 2015|website=Emprois|publisher=Emporis|access-date=February 28, 2022}}

=JW Marriott Edmonton & Residences=

The JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District & Residences was completed in August 2019. The 356-room hotel component, occupying the 1st through 22nd floors, is operated by JW Marriott Hotels. It has {{convert|2300|sqm|sqft}} for conference halls and a {{convert|930|sqm|sqft|adj=on}} ballroom.{{cite web|title=JW Marriott|url=http://icedistrictproperties.com/amenities/jw-marriott|website=Icedistrictproperties|publisher=ICE DISTRICT JV Inc.|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610021233/http://icedistrictproperties.com/amenities/jw-marriott|url-status=dead}} This is the third hotel of this brand in Canada.{{cite news|title=Edmonton's downtown to see Canada's third JW Marriott hotel|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2016/01/13/mariot-hotel-coming-to-edmontons-ice-district.html|access-date=April 19, 2016|agency=Metro News|publisher=Free Daily News Group Inc.|date=January 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508053443/http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2016/01/13/mariot-hotel-coming-to-edmontons-ice-district.html|archive-date=May 8, 2016|url-status=dead}} Residential condominiums known as the Legends Private Residences occupies the 23rd through 54th floors{{cite web|title=Living at Center Ice|url=http://legendscondos.com/|website=Legends Condos|publisher=ICE District JV Inc.|access-date=April 19, 2016}} above the hotel.

=CWB National Headquarters=

CWB is a cancelled office tower in the Ice District. It would have sat at 104 Avenue and 103 Street and been 16 storeys tall.{{cite web|title=Canadian Western Bank moving HQ to centre-ice Edmonton|url=https://www.westerninvestor.com/british-columbia/canadian-western-bank-moving-hq-to-centre-ice-edmonton-5168653|website=Western Investor|publisher=Glacier Media Group|access-date=March 23, 2022}} In March 2019, it was announced that a Loblaws CityMarket would be the anchor tenant for the retail podium, called the Connect Centre, with construction slated to begin "immediately." The retail podium was completed in late 2022,{{Cite web|url=https://edmonton.skyrisecities.com/news/2019/03/loblaws-city-market-announced-ice-district|title=Loblaws City Market Announced for ICE District {{!}} SkyriseEdmonton|website=edmonton.skyrisecities.com|access-date=2019-04-08}}{{cite news|author=Boothby, Lauren|date=November 9, 2022|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/downtown-edmonton-welcomes-loblaws-city-market-after-long-delay|title=Downtown Edmonton welcomes Loblaws City Market after long delay|website=Edmonton Journal|publisher=Postmedia Network|access-date=May 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109193202/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/downtown-edmonton-welcomes-loblaws-city-market-after-long-delay|archive-date=November 9, 2022|url-status=live}} and the tower portion of the project was originally expected to be complete in 2025, but instead now CWB will move into Manulife Place.{{Cite web|url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/canadian-western-bank-to-move-into-edmonton-s-ice-district-1.5799291|title = Canadian Western Bank to move into Edmonton's ICE District|date=28 February 2022|website=CTV News Edmonton|access-date=March 23, 2022}}