Ottawa's PWHL team is getting ready for a new home. The Ottawa Charge are moving their games from TD Place to Canadian Tire Centre for the 2026-27 season, and team staff say the bigger building brings new ways to make money, along with some growing pains.
Adjusting to a new building
"We're learning a lot. We were very comfy at TD Place, just in terms of processes and contacts," Thompson said.
Canadian Tire Centre holds about 18,500 fans, a significant jump in capacity for a team that plays a 15-game home schedule. The Charge have already seen what a big crowd at CTC looks like: the team drew 17,114 fans to a regular season game against Montreal at the arena on April 3.
New hosting spaces and ad space
Thompson said the move opens doors that weren't available at TD Place. "You have hosting spaces and suites and different premium spaces, it opens up a whole new opportunity," she said. The arena also offers far more room for advertising. "The sheer ad space that we're able to use in terms of LED (screens) throughout the building" is a major upgrade over TD Place, Thompson said.
The team has been reaching out to local business groups as it builds out these new partnerships. Thompson said there has been "active engagement with a lot of the BIAs and different business and women's groups" as the Charge look to fill those premium spaces and sponsorship slots.
Ticket prices holding steady
Despite the bigger venue and added amenities, the Charge say fans won't see a jump in ticket prices. Thompson said prices "have stayed within incremental increases, like what we've had year-over-year," meaning the move to a larger arena isn't being used as cover for a price hike.
Thompson said the Charge are "working on a really robust transportation plan for our fans, along with the 400-series buses."
What leadership is saying
Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld credited TD Place for the team's early success while framing the move as a step up. "TD Place was the foundation of our early success, and we're deeply grateful for the energy our fans brought to every game in that building," Hirshfeld said, adding the move to CTC lets the club welcome more fans while improving the experience for players.
Senators CEO Cyril Leeder, whose organization runs Canadian Tire Centre, said the building has room for the Charge on the calendar. "We're not fully booked every night at the CTC. There are lots of dates available," Leeder said.
With the 2026-27 PWHL season about two months away as of this week, the Charge are working to have the new setup, from suites to transportation, in place before puck drop. The team recently signed first-round pick Vivian Jungels to a one-year deal, adding to a roster that will play its first full season in the bigger building. ottown's earlier report has more on that signing.
Sources: Ottawa Business Journal, Ottawa Business Journal
