The Ottawa Charge have locked in a multi‑year agreement that will keep them playing all of their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre starting next season.
The Deal and Its Context
After six appearances at the arena, the team averaged 13,641 fans per game, a figure that underscores both the market’s appetite and the logistical hurdles of filling an 18,000‑seat NHL venue.
The franchise’s previous stint at TD Place lasted three seasons, but the organization decided to move to Kanata, a suburb that offers a larger footprint and new corporate partnerships.
Challenges of a 18,000‑Seat Arena
An arena built for the NHL’s Ottawa Senators presents a capacity far beyond the Charge’s typical attendance, meaning that on ordinary nights as many as ten thousand seats could remain empty.
That empty space, however, can be turned into a selling point; limited ticket availability often drives fans to purchase earlier and at higher prices, creating a sense of urgency that smaller venues naturally generate.
Leaving Lansdowne Behind
The shift also marks a geographic move from the Lansdowne neighbourhood, a central hub that combined easy transit with a vibrant pre‑ and post‑game scene, to a more suburban setting that promises new development opportunities.
Team executives cited the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s long‑term growth strategy and the need for a stable, NHL‑grade facility as the primary drivers behind the decision.
Comments from league officials and local stakeholders are expected in the coming weeks as the league finalizes its schedule and the Charge prepare for their inaugural full‑time season in the new home.