Ice District hotel to use Oilers alumni names on meeting rooms

Ten gathering spaces at the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District hotel have been named after Edmonton Oilers legends.

The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is recognized in the ballroom, while the additional nine meeting spaces have been named to honour coach Glen Sather, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe, Grant Fuhr, Al Hamilton, Jari Kurri, and sports broadcaster Rod Phillips.

When it opens in 2019, the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District will feature more than 22,000 square feet of meeting and conference spaces, including downtown Edmonton’s largest ballroom at 10,500 square feet.

“Over the years, I have watched ICE District come alive and I am proud of the hockey community that has embraced it,” said Gretzky in a Friday release.

“Edmonton carries a proud hockey history and this sport has truly become a cultural benchmark for the city. To be named alongside other deserving alumni is an incredible honour and tribute to our years of hockey in Edmonton.”

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District is slated to open early next year.

“These alumni are an important part of Edmonton’s history and this announcement is a meaningful way to pay homage to ICE District’s culture and incorporate the great legacy of our city,” said Glen Scott, president of Katz Group Real Estate.

The hotel is to feature 346 rooms, a spa, swimming pool and multiple restaurants operated by Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants. It will also house a 20,000-square-foot high performance fitness centre, offering limited memberships.

“The Marriott International portfolio consists of 30 incredible brands globally, however the JW Marriott Brand is one of our most iconic and we are proud to bring our JW Marriott brand to the province of Alberta,” added Martin Stitt, area vice-president for Western Canada with Marriott International.

ICE District is poised to be the largest mixed-use sports and entertainment district in the country, with Rogers Place developed by Oilers Entertainment Group and the City of Edmonton. ICE District Properties, the mixed-use development surrounding Rogers Place and Ford Hall, is being developed through a joint venture between Katz Group and ONE Properties (formerly WAM Development Group).

Edmonton carries a proud hockey history and this sport has truly become a cultural benchmark for the city.