PWHL’s Charge trying to play residence video games at Senators’ area

A PWHL official mentioned Wednesday that there have been constructive conversations in probably teaming with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators to safe its ladies’s hockey franchise a long-term future within the Canadian capital.

The discussions middle on the Ottawa Charge enjoying residence video games on the Senators’ area, the Canadian Tire Centre, PWHL senior VP of enterprise operations Amy Scheer informed The Associated Press. The Charge’s future in Ottawa is unsure past this season because of the metropolis going forward with renovations that may cut back the staff’s present residence’s capability by about 2,000 seats.

“We’ve got a long ways to go to figure out where we are for the future of Ottawa, but the relationship with the Senators has blossomed,” Scheer mentioned throughout a video convention name.

She referred to Senators president and CEO Cyril Leeder as being “a gem to work with.” Scheer and league officers additionally met with Senators proprietor Michael Andlauer whereas attending the ladies’s match on the Milan Cortina Games final month.

The PWHL has already established a partnership with the Senators, with the Charge scheduled to play Montreal on the Canadian Tire Centre on April 3.

“The game is selling really well, so hopefully that’s the first of a really positive road for us to skate down,” Scheer mentioned.

The Senators didn’t instantly reply to a request looking for remark.

The Charge had been one of many PWHL’s authentic six franchises, and have spent the primary three seasons enjoying on the metropolis’s centrally situated TD Place, which can be residence to the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67s. The getting older facility has a capability of about 8,500 for hockey however the renovation will cut back seating to about 5,700, with a further 900 standing-only spots.

The PWHL mentioned the cuts make it financially unfeasible to remain on the area. The Charge averaged about 7,000 followers per outing over the primary two seasons, with that quantity leaping to 7,225 over the staff’s first 9 residence video games this 12 months.

Scheer beforehand mentioned the league was exploring all choices, together with the opportunity of relocation. “We will not go backwards,” Scheer mentioned in November.

The PWHL expanded to eight groups this season, with plans underway so as to add 2-4 groups for subsequent season.

The Senators’ residence area is situated a couple of 40-minute drive exterior of downtown. The staff, nevertheless, is within the early planning phases of constructing a brand new residence nearer to downtown.