Ottawa Charge to Make Canadian Tire Centre Their Permanent Home Starting 2026-27

The PWHL’s Ottawa Charge have announced that they will officially move their home games to the Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the Ottawa Senators, beginning with the 2026-27 season. The announcement came during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, marking a significant shift for the team.

“Senators Sports & Entertainment is proud to officially welcome the Ottawa Charge to Canadian Tire Centre,” stated SS&E president and CEO Cyril Leeder. He emphasized the importance of having two professional hockey teams in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, highlighting the Charge’s rapid growth in popularity and their integral role in the local hockey community.

Previously, the Charge played their first three seasons at TD Place, situated in the Lansdowne Park area. However, following the city of Ottawa’s approval of a $419 million redevelopment plan for Lansdowne Park, which includes a smaller event centre, the decision was made to transition to the larger Canadian Tire Centre. The new venue will provide the Charge with a more expansive platform to host their growing fanbase, as TD Place has a seating capacity of 8,500 compared to the Canadian Tire Centre’s larger capacity.

PWHL executive vice-president of hockey operations Amy Scheer expressed her disappointment regarding the changes at TD Place, stating, “Honestly, in four decades of working in professional sports, this might be the most disappointing thing I have ever seen,” in an op-ed for the Ottawa Citizen.

The Charge demonstrated their potential at the Canadian Tire Centre during the recent Walter Cup playoffs, where they set attendance records. For Game 1 of the championship series against Montreal, the venue welcomed 16,894 fans, establishing a PWHL single-game playoff attendance record. Although the Charge ultimately lost the series to the Montreal Victoire in four games, they showcased the capacity for large crowds, with a regular-season game on April 3 drawing 17,114 attendees, marking the highest attendance for a women’s hockey game ever in Ottawa.

“As the Charge community continues to grow, the move to the Canadian Tire Centre will position us to welcome more fans and continue building a memorable experience for our players and our supporters,” said Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld. He expressed gratitude for the support at TD Place and excitement for the future at their new home, noting the magic their fans brought to games at the Canadian Tire Centre during the playoffs.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.