There was excitement Friday as the Ottawa Senators and the National Capital Commission reached an “agreement in principle” to build a new arena at the long discussed LeBreton Flats. The arena would finally bring the NHL’s Ottawa Senators back into the city’s downtown, and out of Kanata.
What wasn’t discussed in the initial announcement, is that a new NHL sized arena at LeBreton Flats could likely become home to the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge as well.
Earlier this year, debate was sparked surrounding the demolition of the Charge’s current venue, TD Place Arena, to be replaced by a new arena at the same location with roughly 3,000 fewer seats.
Related: Local Government Responds To How Arena Plan Could Negatively Impact To PWHL Ottawa
The Ottawa Charge averaged a PWHL-high 7,496 fans per game this season, significantly more than the proposed arena for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park.
The combined announcement from the Ottawa Senators and National Capital Commission, however, will provide hope for Ottawa Charge fans who were concerned about reduced capacity for games. The plans for Lansdowne Park predated the PWHL and were prepared with only the OHL’s Ottawa 67s in mind.
Across the PWHL this offseason, teams including the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres both made moves to bigger venues to meet demand. Both moved into American Hockey League venues. Other teams in the PWHL are already sharing NHL venues with the Minnesota Frost playing at the Xcel Energy Centre, and the New York Sirens playing at the Prudential Centre.
Should a new downtown Ottawa facility be built for the Ottawa Senators, it may become a project for both the Senators and Ottawa Charge.
View the original article to see embedded media.
