PWHL says it didn't get place at the table to negotiate larger Lansdowne arena

Amy Scheer, PWHL's executive vice-president of business operations, left, and Jayna Hefford, PWHL's executive vice-president of hockey operations, speak to councillors spoke during the Lansdowne 2.0 session at Ottawa City Hall on Oct. 29. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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“We trusted the mayor. We trusted OSEG. Yet not once where we contacted to speak about the capacity,” Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s senior vice-president of business operations, told members of the city finance committee on Wednesday, when city hall received the first round of 88 delegations signed up to address the controversial redevelopment.

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The proposal would reduce the size of the arena to a seating capacity of 5,850, with standing room bringing total capacity to 6,000.

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“Do we support the project? Yes, we do. We would love a new building,” Scheer said. “We’d love to see a new building thrive in this community. But not at this capacity, reducing the arena by 3,000 seats for us. And also, you know, by the way, for other events. It’s debilitating for business.”

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The PWHL currently has eight teams including the Ottawa Charge, now entering the final year of a three-year lease at Lansdowne Park.

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Other PWHL teams have larger home arenas. Montreal has about 10,000 seats and Toronto about 9,000, Scheer said. It’s between 16,000 and 17,000 for Vancouver, Seattle, Minnesota and New York. Boston plays in two different arenas, with 7,700 seats in one and 6,000 in the other.

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Speaking to councillors on Wednesday, Scheer said trimming the number of seats would cut into ticket sales, which would also reduce merchandise sales, partnerships, food concessions and parking revenue.

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For decades across North America, venues have been built that are too big for women, but fit men, she said.

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“In the most cruel twist of fate, we sit here today seeing the absolute reverse where a stadium or an arena is being built that is too small for women and perfect for the men.”

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A young Ottawa Charge fan blows on a kazoo before a PWHL playoff game against the Minnesota Frost in May. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Earlier Wednesday, city manager Wendy Stephanson released a memo stating that an increase in seating capacity of 2,000-plus seats would result in an estimated increase in footprint of 20 per cent to 25 per cent. That would cost, at a minimum, $80 million to $100 million more on top of the original cost of the event centre, which was $176.8 million as part of a fixed-price bid.

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“An increased footprint represents a change in the design and schedule council approved in 2023. This would terminate the existing project and require a minimum of two to three years to complete,” the memo said.