The PWHL is a league on the rise. Ottawa is known to have one of the PWHL's most devout fan bases. Last year, they drew more than 8,000 fans to TD Place Arena four times in the regular season, and twice more in playoffs. They're good numbers. But if a misguided plan by the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group is set to hurl a crushing blow to thousands of Ottawa Charge fans.
Like many throughout history, these groups have shown no interest in altering their plans to support women's sport. Instead, they are moving ahead with men's hockey as their lone thought. The inability, or disinterest from OSEG and the City to re-examine their plans, which were originally laid out before the Ottawa Charge came into existence, is shortsighted, and should give cause for concern to every Ottawa citizen whose tax dollars will be used to help fund this project.
What's the big deal? Well, the new arena at Lansdowne will drop the capacity of the Ottawa Charge's arena to only 5,500. The lowest attended game in Ottawa Charge history saw 5,005 fans in attendance. In two seasons, Ottawa has drawn under the future 5,500 limit only four times. In the 25 home games played at TD Place Arena above 5,500, a total of 46,336 would not have been able to attend games, for an average of 1,853 fewer fans per game. For a league that is looking to grow, that's significant. Were the new arena 6,500 or even 7,000 seats, the issue would be nearly moot. But as it stands, the Ottawa Charge are going to be hit hard, and there's no telling the long term impact it could have on the stability of the franchise in Ottawa.
Back in January, The Hockey News received the following comment from OSEG who stated, "From OSEG’s perspective, we value the Ottawa Charge as both partners and tenants at TD Place. It’s tremendously exciting to witness the talent these professional athletes bring to the City of Ottawa. While we can confirm the Ottawa Charge are involved and informing the process as the project moves along, we’re not positioned to comment on whether the proposed capacity would adversely affect their attendance levels."
The fact OSEG says they're "not positioned to comment" on the adverse impacts to attendance levels for the Ottawa Charge is chosen ignorance, when the statistics and facts are clear as day. Similarly, the Ottawa Charge may be informed, but it doesn't mean they're happy with the plans. Informing someone you plan to bulldoze their home, and involving them in the plans to rebuild, but with the knowledge that some of their kids will need to sleep outside, isn't partnership.
The other issue for Ottawa Charge fans is that the smaller capacity will certainly be coupled with a significant increase in ticket prices. With less fans in the building, less merchandise sold, and fewer concession sales, the only way to continue to be profitable as salaries and costs for the PWHL rise, is to raise ticket prices.
The building's other tenant, the OHL's Ottawa 67s averaged only 3,885 fans in 2024-25. There's no concern for men's hockey fans in the city.
Over two seasons, the loss of 46,336 fans, assuming a ticket price and at game spending of $50 per person, equates to a loss more than $2.3 million for the PWHL and Charge. Last year the entire salary of the Ottawa Charge's roster was roughly $1.3 million.
It's clear the City of Ottawa and OSEG do not care about the success of the Ottawa Charge. If they did, they wouldn't be asking the venue's most successful tenant to sacrifice more than a million dollars per season. Turning away customers by choice is poor planning and a waste of taxpayer money.
Not only is the capacity a significant concern, but the design itself has received considerable critique. Fans and Ottawa residents have responded repeatedly to the proposed reduction in capacity, but it appears OSEG and the City are intent on taking a Titanic approach despite the icebergs being visible.
Various sources within the PWHL have stated the league and Charge are unhappy with the current Lansdowne 2.0 plans. It's time the PWHL's top brass step forward and push this conversation, because they are not innocent in this process. The Mark Walter Group is a company with significant pull at all levels, and they could step in and force OSEG and Ottawa's hand, or even offer to help subsidize a small portion of the project to ensure the Charge are not impacted. Alternatively, they could use their influence to leverage groups to make last minute changes before it is too late.
In the end, Ottawa Charge fans can clearly see OSEG and the City of Ottawa are not listening. The optics also aren't pretty designing a venue with only the teenage men's hockey tenants in mind, with zero consideration for the professional women's athletes, and their significantly larger fan base.