Blake Duffy

@LeiperOttawa So CTC is a perfect rink for the Charge?

The Ottawa Charge just broke North American women’s hockey records. Mark Sutcliffe’s response? Lansdowne 2.0 with 5,850 seats. We’re shrinking while the city grows. That’s not leadership. That’s playing it safe when we need to think bigger.

@BrandonMaki_ Yeah, agreed. Just a very odd way to bring negative attention after an incredible performance.

@BlakeDuffy I think they were aiming for the whole "eyes on the prize" thing and trying to downplay winning the conference. I get it, just didn't go about it the right way to me.

I get what they're going for here, but the media has a job to do, and I can tell you from experience it is damn hard to generate coverage for an OHL team these days. The few reporters who do show up won't continue if it's not worth their time. Most are young and learning too.

@DaveDawson7 If more Canadians invested in spending $25 to go see really good football, we likely aren’t in this spot to begin with

@BlakeDuffy Fair point. But I do think that the other dozen CFL beat reporters, team's broadcasters who are opposed to it are more than enough evidence that maybe it's not the right decision. Again, the only ones defending it are die hard loyalists or network employees.

This is so fascinating. I've never seen such a polarizing opinion from all major market media. Literally the only people who are FOR the change are either employed by their flagship broadcaster, or they are super fans/podcasters. That should stand for something.

@DaveDawson7 Yes and I think they are right to criticize. I am not sure I have a fully formed opinion either. However, arguing that this change will be the reason for the demise while completely ignoring that the current format wasn’t working either is just foolish.

@JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK @Paul057Kelly Sir. I believe you are losing the point. Love the idea of the PWHL growing. The point is that you’re asking locals to pay more after a long process that dates back to pre-Covid. That suits 1 TEAM! OHL, 34+ nights. Concerts/events, 50+. Spin it all you like. 15 PWHL events 💰

@BlakeDuffy @IanKennedyCK @Paul057Kelly And there’s going to be a stark difference for those in all teams both male and female. That being said, the overall average attendance is still the highest by far at TD Place.

The Ottawa Charge finished their 2025-26 regular season with an average attendance of 8,131. Exactly as Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and OSEG predicted, less than 5,500.

@JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK @Paul057Kelly The PWHL is now saying expansion must be minimum 10,000. Wouldn’t work in the current arena. Either they rival the NHL or they remain at the 6,500 sold out, every night attendance. Looking at Saturday night against MTL vs. WED against NY. Stark difference.

@BlakeDuffy @IanKennedyCK @Paul057Kelly All of those utilize far more then the 5,500 seats that 2.0 is given. Using the example of curling, the most recent Brier there was a sellout in many games of the playoffs right to standing room. Memorial Cup requires far more then 5,500 as does the World Juniors.

@JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK @Paul057Kelly The “work more” is a misleading way of saying “spend more money.” You must have premium seating if you want to survive in this industry, it is non negotiable. I love progress. But adding 3,000 more seats means 3 more rows… More money for taxpayers.

@IanKennedyCK @Paul057Kelly @JohnSiteman Only 1 team? Concerts, curling, tennis, basketball, Memorial cup… shall I continue. If you believe that this project is for 1 team, I believe you’re being disingenuous.

@Paul057Kelly @JohnSiteman @BlakeDuffy You do realize that hundreds of millions are being spent to satisfy only one team right now, right?

@Paul057Kelly @JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK My point exactly Paul.

@JohnSiteman @BlakeDuffy @IanKennedyCK Nobody else needs the extra 3000 seats. Its not like they have a 20 year run in the city. Its year 2. Ottawa is fickle, they are the flavor of the week. The redblacks sold out for the first 4 seasons and have struggled to get back to that number... The Lynx. Same thing

@JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK I couldn’t disagree more with everything you have said. But I appreciate the discourse. Cheers

@BlakeDuffy @IanKennedyCK Average attendance metrics aren’t “flawed”- they reflect the whole of the season and what they’re drawing (which has been consistently much higher than 5,500 seats that Landsdowne 2.0 has proposed. To me, it’s bad business to drop 3,000 seats and lose a main tenant because of it.

@JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK And just so we’re clear, events currently skip TD Place because they lack premium seating. Not because the building is 8000 vs. 6000 seats

@BlakeDuffy @IanKennedyCK The messaging isn’t confusing at all- they like what they have with Landsdowne but won’t take a scenario where they massively drop capacity when they’ve proven it to be successful. It’s not an “all or nothing” as they’ve proven that they are successfully drawing every game.

@JohnSiteman @IanKennedyCK So the City should ask tax payers to pay more for a facility that accommodates 1 team? Confusing messaging here. Either they are so successful that they outgrew the capacity or they are likely to end up like every other Ottawa team… struggling to fill the building

@BlakeDuffy @IanKennedyCK OSEG manage the facility for the City of Ottawa. Ultimately, OSEG aren’t paying for it- the city is. All major tenants should be involved in helping fund a proper size facility rather then just being a “take it or leave it” style of design.

@BrandonMaki_ It’s always about the Leafs

Carolina is the Beast of the East. Vastly better than the Leafs team Ottawa saw last year. And yet, that series was even as a sweep can possible be. Future is so bright.

@BrandonMaki_ @NHLPlayerSafety Penalty called on the ice. Caught him up high. Don’t like the hit and thought it was dirty. I have seen much worse in the playoffs with no repercussions… more just surprised we are pointing to a Hall goal after the Sens have 9 PP and haven’t converted

@BlakeDuffy @NHLPlayerSafety I mean sure but did he give him a concussion and knock him out of the biggest game of the series? Dirty for sure but an apples and oranges comparison and we both know Greig is not on the same level as Hall in terms of impact on the series lol

awesome that the guy who should be suspended gets the goal. another @NHLPlayerSafety masterclass.

@AntiSideBurn @TSN1200 @brendanbell613 A hockey podcast in which they discuss rosters and the current state of hockey? Lost on the correlation between my day-day activities and a professional being asked to complete his job duties. Not sure about you, but I work. And at work, I often have duties I wish I didn’t.

@BlakeDuffy @TSN1200 @brendanbell613 What do those questions have to do with hockey and this team? You must have hard time getting through day to day activities. The questions are the distraction. Thats the point. Figure it out.

Here are the comments from @brendanbell613 on #BradyTkachuk from our postgame show last night.