Updates on Ottawa Charge Women’s Hockey Team
On Wednesday, an official from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) provided updates on ongoing discussions with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators regarding the future of the Ottawa Charge women’s hockey team. The senior vice president of business operations for the PWHL, Amy Scheer, revealed that negotiations are centered around the potential for the Charge to host home games at the Canadian Tire Centre, the home arena of the Senators.
Challenges Ahead
The upcoming renovations in Ottawa, which will diminish the current venue’s seating capacity by approximately 2,000, have put the Charge’s future in the city in jeopardy just beyond this season. During a video call conference, Scheer noted,
“We have a long way to go in determining Ottawa’s future, but our collaboration with the Senators is thriving.”
She praised Senators president and CEO Cyril Leeder, calling him “a gem to work with,” and mentioned meetings with Senators owner Michael Andlauer at the recent women’s tournament at the Milan Cortina Games.
Current Collaborations and Future Prospects
Currently, the PWHL has a collaboration with the Senators for a specific match scheduled for April 3 against Montreal at the Canadian Tire Centre, which Scheer reports is experiencing strong ticket sales.
“This could be the start of a fruitful partnership for us,”
she expressed.
The Ottawa Charge was one of the founding franchises of the PWHL and has played its home games at TD Place, which accommodates around 8,500 spectators. Following renovations, the arena’s capacity will be reduced to 5,700, with an additional 900 standing spots. Such changes have led the league to believe that remaining at the venue is not economically viable. Despite averaging about 7,000 attendees in their initial two seasons, the Charge saw a rise in attendance this year to about 7,225 per home game.
Future Considerations
Scheer previously indicated that all options, including the possibility of relocation, were on the table, asserting,
“We will not go backwards.”
The PWHL is currently in its expansion phase, having grown from six to eight teams this season, with plans to potentially add two to four more teams next year. The Canadian Tire Centre site, however, is roughly a 40-minute drive from downtown Ottawa, while the Senators are initiating plans for a new venue closer to the city center that could influence the future dynamics of both franchises.
