Ottawa Charge shifts home arena to Canadian Tire Centre, home of Senators
The Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) have announced that Canadian Tire Centre will become their primary home venue, beginning with the 2026-27 season. This move marks a significant shift for the team, which previously played its home games at TD Place for its first three seasons. The agreement is multi-year and will see the Charge share the arena with the NHL‘s Ottawa Senators.
The decision to relocate follows the Charge‘s successful playoff run, during which they played all four home playoff games at Canadian Tire Centre this past spring. These games, along with a regular-season match against the Montreal Victoire on April 3, drew large crowds, including 17,114 fans for the regular-season game. The team averaged over 13,000 attendees during their playoff appearances at the venue.
New Facilities and Partnership
The move to Canadian Tire Centre will provide the Charge with upgraded facilities, including a dedicated locker room, a players’ lounge, coaches’ offices, medical space, and an equipment area. Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld expressed enthusiasm for these improvements, stating that the team will likely have some of the top facilities in the PWHL once the work is completed. This relocation will also allow the team to both play and practice in the same location.
This transition solidifies an official partnership between the Charge and the Ottawa Senators, bringing both major league hockey teams under one roof. Senators president and chief executive officer Cyril Leeder highlighted the benefit to the community, noting that having both leagues playing in the city, now under one roof, is a positive development. Senators owner Michael Andlauer reportedly supports the agreement, aiming to ensure the Charge‘s long-term success in Ottawa.
The collaboration between the two organizations extends beyond the arena sharing. Senators Sports & Entertainment is working on a deal to build a downtown arena, and Leeder indicated a desire to design a campus there for the Charge as well, should those plans materialize. Hirshfeld affirmed that efforts would be made to ensure any future moves are smooth for the team and its fanbase.
Fan Base and Future Growth
The Charge‘s move addresses concerns raised by the PWHL regarding the future capacity at TD Place. The original arena, which had a capacity of over 9,800, averaged 7,382 fans through 12 home games last season. However, redevelopment plans for TD Place, known as the Lansdowne 2.0 project, include a new arena with a smaller seating capacity of 5,850, expandable to over 6,600. The league’s executive vice-president of business operations, Amy Scheer, had previously called this a “huge step back” that would hinder the team’s ability to thrive financially.
Hirshfeld acknowledged fan concerns about the move but emphasized the opportunity to accommodate more fans at Canadian Tire Centre, which offers greater capacity. The Charge averaged 13,641 fans over their first six games at the venue, and set a PWHL single-game playoff attendance record with 16,894 fans at their first 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Finals game on May 18 against the Victoire. This momentum underscores the growing demand for women’s professional hockey in the region.
The relocation also brings together Senators forward Ridly Greig and his sister, Dara Greig, who recently signed with the Charge as a free agent. The Ottawa Charge are currently accepting deposits for new Season Ticket Memberships for the 2026-27 season, with current members receiving renewal details soon.
Source: sportsnet.ca
