Ottawa Charge Won’t Play in Smaller Lansdowne Arena, PWHL Confirms

URGENT UPDATE: The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has confirmed that the Ottawa Charge will NOT be playing at the newly proposed, smaller TD Place arena within Lansdowne Park. This shocking announcement comes from Amy Scheer, the league’s executive director of business operations, just hours ago.

The decision stems from serious concerns over the arena’s seating capacity, which has been dramatically reduced by roughly 3,000 seats as part of the $419 million redevelopment plan recently approved by Ottawa city council. “We will not play in a 5,500 seat building,” Scheer stated emphatically during a virtual press conference. The Charge’s ability to draw fans is evident, as they averaged 5,775 attendees during weekday games and 8,348 on weekends last season.

This development is a setback for the team and its supporters. “We chose Ottawa for a reason,” Scheer expressed, emphasizing the community’s unwavering support. However, she lamented the city’s failure to facilitate a viable solution, stating, “the city hasn’t made it easy for us, and it’s disappointing.”

The PWHL’s concerns come as part of ongoing discussions about the arena’s capacity. Adding enough seats to accommodate the Charge and meet financial expectations would require an estimated investment of $80 million to $100 million, a figure that has raised eyebrows among city officials. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has previously suggested that the league is leveraging negotiations with OSEG for a new lease to secure a more favorable deal.

In a statement released earlier today, Sutcliffe confirmed that the city manager is actively working with both the league and OSEG on lease negotiations, aiming to find a feasible resolution. “While the negotiations continue, I don’t feel it’s appropriate for any of us to be commenting publicly on the process,” he said, reinforcing the urgency surrounding this situation.

As the negotiations unfold, the future of the Ottawa Charge hangs in the balance. Fans are left anxiously wondering whether their beloved team will remain in the city they have committed to. Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops!