February 27, 2009  

Charlotte, NC – Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department hosts the 2009 Roller Derby home season for the Charlotte Roller Girls at Grady Cole Center, 310 North Kings Drive. The season’s opening “bout” begins at 7pm on Saturday, March 7, 2009. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Charlotte Roller Girls is an all-female flat-track roller derby team that plays in a league throughout the southeast which also includes teams in Richmond, VA; Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC, Athens, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Knoxville, TN, and Johnson City TN. The Roller Girls are a not-for-profit organization that donates time and a portion of its proceeds to local charities.

Advance tickets are available at www.charlotterollergirls.com or at The Common Market, 2007 Commonwealth Ave. Bouts are also scheduled for April 18 and May 17. Additional summer and fall dates will be announced soon. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, with season tickets for $55.

Roller Derby was a popular sport in the 1940’s-1960’s. It experienced a rebirth in 2001 and was re-introduced to the Queen City in 2006. In 2007 the Charlotte Roller Girls team played exclusively on the road. In 2008, this group of athletic, competitive women began to attract an increased following, the sport grew locally with fans enjoying the thrilling action and sassy style, and an intra-city “minor league” was established. Play in Charlotte has been said to have developed one of the largest followings in the nation. There are now 150 teams across America.

The sport will be featured in a movie called “Whip It” to be released this summer with actress Drew Barrymore. Roller Derby is a sport where two teams skate around an oval track, jockeying for position with a series of blocks and tactics, to become the first to cross the finish line. The girls play under colorful nicknames like Rosie Cheeks, Ducky Longstockings, Cuckoo Chanel No. 5, Hellin Felon, and Darcy Vader, Pamela Anderslam.

For more information on Roller Derby or other events at the Grady Cole Center please check www.parkandrec.com or contact Jason Tryon at 704-336-2344 or Jason.Tryon@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov