Ottawa Charge Announce Move to Canadian Tire Centre: A New Home for the PWHL Team
The Ottawa Charge have announced their move to the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) for the upcoming season. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team played post-season games at the Ottawa Senators' home earlier this year. The decision not to play at the new Lansdowne Park arena was due to its smaller seating capacity compared to the current TD Place Arena. Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld confirmed a multi-year agreement with the Senators for arena use.
The Charge, one of the original six PWHL franchises, spent their first three seasons at TD Place Arena, shared with the Ottawa 67's. The new Lansdowne arena's limited seating of 5,850, expandable to over 6,600, was a factor in the team's decision. Last season, the Charge's average attendance at TD Place was 7,382 in 12 games, with most games exceeding 6,600 attendees.
During the past season, the Charge attracted an average of 13,416 fans per playoff game at the CTC and drew a crowd of 17,114 for a regular-season game at the 18,655-capacity arena. Despite reaching the Walter Cup Finals in the last two seasons, the Charge fell short in both instances. The Senators are considering a move to a new downtown arena at Lebreton Flats, but construction has not yet commenced.
In conclusion, the Ottawa Charge's move to the Canadian Tire Centre marks a significant development for the team as they transition to a new home with greater seating capacity and potential for increased fan engagement. The multi-year agreement with the Senators sets the stage for an exciting new chapter for the Charge in the upcoming season.