The future of women’s hockey in Ottawa could depend on the Lansdowne 2.0 bid

If Lansdowne 2.0 is passed by city council this fall, one of the biggest changes to the site would be the loss of seating. The arena at TD Place would go from around 8,000 seats to about 5,500. 

That could be a concern for the women’s hockey team, the Ottawa Charge, which saw four sold-out games during its inaugural season, and another two during the playoffs. 

The Ottawa Charge's lowest-attended game drew 5,005 fans. Across two seasons, attendance has dipped below the proposed 5,500-seat threshold only four times. In the 25 home games where crowds exceeded that number at TD Place Arena, a total of 46,336 additional fans would have been unable to attend under the limit, averaging 1,853 lost spectators per game.

Want to put that into perspective? That would mean an estimated loss of $2.3 million for the Charge over two years. During the last season, its roster was paid around $1.3 million. 

But Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe does not see it that way. 

“The average number of fans at PWHL games this year was not that much larger than the capacity of the new event centre,” the Mayor told the Ottawa Lookout. “They have only been around for a couple of years. They are a valuable tenant and we don’t know what the future holds,” he says, adding that they could become so successful that they outgrow Lansdowne anyway.  

“There is a way for the PWHL to fit within those plans going forward, and it is up to OSEG to work that out with them.” 

The team’s contract lasts another three years.

Reduced seating would not impact the Ottawa 67s OHL team, which also plays at Lansdowne’s TD Place arena, which attracted an average of 3,885 fans during the 2024-2025 season.

But Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, who has announced he intends to run for mayor against the incumbent, disagrees with Sutcliffe’s comments. As a season ticket holder for the Ottawa Charge, he has seen how busy games can get and the passion from the local fan base. 

“I see the potential that, as the PWHL gains traction, at some point we would regret reducing the size of that arena by a couple of thousand people,” Leiper told the Kitchissippi Times.

“There is also the question of the financing for the deal. We were assured in Lansdowne 1.0 that the financing would work out a certain way, and that there would be dividends for the city, for its contribution of the facilities into that partnership. We’ve seen that those haven’t been borne out.”

Coun. Shawn Menard, who represents Capital Ward where Lansdowne is located, has said if the plans pass, the city would be betting “against women’s sports in Ottawa.” 

If the stadium is smaller, he noted ticket prices would increase to make up the difference. It would also mean a loss in sales of merchandise and concession items.   

“Higher ticket prices are what they (the city) say their goal is. They think, ‘why have seating this size when you can have it smaller as a more corporate stadium with more corporate boxes?’ It is not a hidden thing that is what they are looking to get into,” Menard previously told the Lookout. 

Various sources in the PWHL have told The Hockey News that the Charge is not happy with the current Lansdowne 2.0 proposal and the loss of seats. Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) – which manages Lansdowne Park – responded to the publication by saying it values the women’s hockey team playing at its property.

“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,” said OSEG in a statement. 

OSEG was reached by the Lookout for an interview but they declined to comment for this article. 

With files by Kate Chappell.