The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has announced that the Ottawa Charge will not be playing at the smaller TD Place arena as part of the approved Lansdowne Park redevelopment plan. Amy Scheer, the league’s executive director of business operations, mentioned on Tuesday that the main reason for this decision is the reduced seating capacity of the new arena, which has been a concern previously.

The recent $419-million redevelopment plan approved by the Ottawa city council includes a decrease in seating capacity at the arena by approximately 3,000 seats. Scheer stated that this reduction would be a step backward for the Charge team. She emphasized that they are unwilling to play in a 5,500-seat venue like the proposed Lansdowne 2.0 arena.

Prior to the final vote by city councillors on the project, Scheer had expressed to CBC that a smaller arena would not be financially viable for the team, considering the Charge’s significant fan attendance. Last season, the Charge drew an average of 5,775 fans during regular weekday games and 8,348 on weekends.

Scheer emphasized on Tuesday that the team is committed to staying in Ottawa, as the city and its fans have been supportive. However, she expressed disappointment at the challenges faced in finding a suitable solution. The city estimated that adding 2,000 or more seats to the arena would require an investment of $80 million to $100 million.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has suggested that the league is exerting pressure during negotiations with OSEG for a new lease agreement to secure the best possible terms. In response, Sutcliffe mentioned that the city manager is actively engaged in lease negotiations with the league and OSEG to explore potential solutions. Sutcliffe refrained from making public comments on the negotiation process while discussions are ongoing.