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WATCH ABOVE: The Arena District is no more. An announcement was made Monday, calling the area around Rogers Place “Ice District.” Fletcher Kent has more.

EDMONTON — When Edmonton’s downtown Rogers Place arena opens in 2016, it will be part of what will be known as the “Ice District.”

On Monday morning the official name was announced via a video posted to Marketwired’s YouTube, saying the Ice District will “transform Edmonton and will be the largest mixed-use sports and entertainment development in Canada.” The video’s settings were later switched to private.

The Katz Group, Oilers Entertainment Group and WAM Development held a media event for a “milestone announcement” at noon on Monday in downtown Edmonton. The video was shown at the event.

“Effective immediately, the Edmonton Arena District is now the Ice District,” said Glen Scott, senior vice president of real estate for the Katz Group.

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Based on its size and architecture, officials said there will be nothing like the district in North America.

WATCH: The Katz Group, Oilers Entertainment Group and WAM Development Group make an announcement Monday about the Ice District.

“The Ice District just says it all,” said Bob Nicholson, CEO of the Oilers Entertainment Group.

“It really started with Daryl (Katz),” he added, speaking about where the idea came from. “We took it to focus groups, stakeholders and people really started to buy in.

“Edmonton is a special place… a strong northern city and it’s only fitting that we build our brand around a symbol representative of that,” added Nicholson.

“Hockey is our sport, there’s no question. People bleed Oilers.”

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Edmonton city councillor Scott McKeen was very keen on the winter-themed name.

“We do not have to apologize for being a winter city and we need to learn ways to honour that and exploit that,” he said. “I love that it ties in with that.”

The Ice District represents $2.5 billion in development. Phase 1 includes 1.3 million square feet of office space, 1,000 premier residential units, and 270,000 square feet of retail space.

“We want to make sure that whenever we’re talking about the Ice District, it’s not just the hockey name and arena,” said Scott. “There’s going to be so many more activities, hopefully every day of the year.”

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Other landmarks included in the Ice District include the Edmonton Civic Tower, Stantec Tower, a casino, VIP cinemas and a four-star hotel, according to Nicholson.

WATCH: The promotional video for the newly-announced Edmonton Ice District

A new website for the Ice District was also announced Monday.

What do you think of the name? Vote in our poll below.

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In recent days, promotional art installations popped up around downtown Edmonton, with the hashtag #ComingJuly13. Among them, an ice cube sculpture and chalk art drawings.

Several people speculated over the meaning on social media.

We’ve got ice in the streets of Edmonton. Maybe folks are just excited for the #Oilers next season? #ComingJuly13 pic.twitter.com/y5kBChFt3u — Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) July 12, 2015

Never a dull moment in our city. Something is #ComingJuly13. Love a good mystery! #ExploreEdmonton pic.twitter.com/tzXRdWqnY4 — ExploreEdmonton (@EdmontonTourism) July 12, 2015

WATCH: Social media users react to the name Ice District

Initial reaction to the new name was rather frosty on Monday morning.

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“Hey media, want to come to Edmonton to see that we’re more than just cold?” -“Sure!” “Great, we’ll start you in the Ice District!” — Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) July 13, 2015

My question is what we are going to call people who frequent the Ice District. “Ice Holes”, “Ice Ds”, “Ice Ice Babies”? #yegarena #yeg — Jeff Samsonow (@jeffsamsonow) July 13, 2015

You guys can call it whatever you like, but I’m gonna call it the Vanilla Ice District. #wordtoyourmother — Nisa Drozdowski (@NisaD_) July 13, 2015

@GlobalEdmonton Arena District is much better. Unless you are super into Frozen. #LetItGo — Graeme Emmerzael (@gforce85) July 13, 2015

That must have taken almost 30 seconds to come up with. “The arena has ice, so that has to be in the name somewhere. I know, Ice District.” — Ryan Batty (@ryan_batty) July 13, 2015

@GlobalEdmonton I think it’s not cool 😃 seriously though I hate it. — Tamara, I am FIERCE! (@YouAreFIERCE) July 13, 2015

So apparently the major news in #yeg this morning is that a marketing firm came up with a ridiculous new name for part of downtown. — Tabby Lavalamp (@TabbyLavalamp) July 13, 2015

@GlobalEdmonton @mikesobel The House of McDavid!! it shall be called..lol — Matthew Hanson (@Matthanson84) July 13, 2015

The name comes from Daryl Katz going to the City for funding and saying “‘ice district you have here. Be a shame if anything happened.” — Benjamin Massey (@Lord_Bob) July 13, 2015

@GlobalEdmonton How creative and marketable. Now if we could rename Edmonton “The City” we’d have it made. Thanks Captain Obvious — Kevin Belzile (@IAmBelzile) July 13, 2015

Ice District?? That’s what all these #ComingJuly13 build up is all about? Lol. I feel a bit cheated. http://t.co/ooH9HkVZhN #yegdowntown — MM Diaz (@akomuzikera) July 13, 2015

Ice District? Seriously, #Edmonton? This is K-days all over again. Naming brainiacs hard at work. “Arena District” was too mainstream? #yeg — Bilal Houri (@bilalhouri) July 13, 2015

Ice District? That’s not really narrowing things down much in Edmonton six months of the year. — Robin Brownlee (@Robin_Brownlee) July 13, 2015

@GlobalEdmonton everyone has referred to Arena or New Arena district until now. Ice is dumb. Especially if other sports use the arena. — ਅਰੁਨਦੀਪ ਿਸੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ (@idesofjulius) July 13, 2015

And just when we had all unknotted our panties over the K-Days naming fiasco… #yeg #yegice — Nisa Drozdowski (@NisaD_) July 13, 2015

Not everyone hated the name though.

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The Ice District? Not the best name out there but I see why they did it. #yeg is trying to market itself as a winter city. Makes sense. — YEG Watty (@WattyYEG) July 13, 2015

@GlobalEdmonton makes sense it’s so cold their in the winter and the colors as we’ll I actually think it’s cool — Jennifer Tracey (@ShaylaBerriez) July 13, 2015

So the Ice District will become “Hey let’s meet at the”Ice Plaza or Ice Casino etc”‘. Kinda cool. lol . I like it. #yeg — Jjaded (@Jjaded1) July 13, 2015

WATCH: Edmonton’s downtown arena area gets official name. Michel Boyer reports on the “Ice District” name reveal live on the Morning News.

Follow @KarenBartko

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