The Professional Women's Hockey League has made a definitive statement about the future of the Ottawa Charge, confirming the team will not be playing at the newly approved arena as part of the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment project.
Capacity Concerns Force PWHL's Hand
In a media availability held on Tuesday, Amy Scheer, the PWHL's senior vice-president of business operations, stated unequivocally that the league "will not go backwards" by moving into the proposed 5,580-seat facility. The reduced capacity falls significantly below the team's current attendance averages, making the venue unsuitable for the growing fanbase.
"These women have worked too hard to get to the point today where a 5,500 seat building is well below what we average in Ottawa," Scheer emphasized. "We will not play at Lansdowne 2.0 — that's the one option not on the table."
Approved Plan Falls Short for Professional Standards
The Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment plan, which narrowly passed city council on November 7, 2025 with a 15-10 vote, includes plans for an arena with 5,850 seats and standing room that would bring total capacity to approximately 6,600 fans for hockey games. Despite this additional standing room, the PWHL maintains that the venue remains inadequate for a professional women's hockey team that has demonstrated strong community support.
Throughout the months-long negotiation process, the league repeatedly expressed concerns about the proposed arena's capacity limitations. Scheer revealed that the PWHL had requested involvement in discussions with the city and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) but ultimately felt excluded from the conversation.
Exploring All Options for Ottawa's Future
While ruling out the Lansdowne 2.0 arena, Scheer confirmed that "every option is on the table" for securing an appropriate home for the Ottawa Charge. The league is actively discussing multiple alternatives, though no specific timeline has been established for an announcement.
Potential venues under consideration include:
- The Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, current home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators
- The proposed new arena at LeBreton Flats
- Other undisclosed locations within the Ottawa area
"We certainly don't want to leave Ottawa," Scheer stated. "We chose Ottawa for a reason, and the fans have been wonderfully supportive of us there, and we'd like to find a solution that works for us to stay in Ottawa. But the city hasn't made it easy for us, and it's disappointing."
The PWHL's decision highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing urban development with the needs of professional sports organizations. As Scheer noted, "We felt we were forced to go public because we were really just left behind. And the city was very clear on where we fit in the ecosystem of their sports, which is nowhere."
The league continues to evaluate all possibilities while maintaining its commitment to providing Ottawa Charge players with facilities that match their professional status and the enthusiasm of their growing fanbase.
