DC Rollergirls

So, last night was my first roller derby experience ever. It was novel and fun, but unless your wife/​daughter/​sister is on the team or you’re big into mullets, you’re probably only going to go once or twice a year.
For $ 16.25, you’ll see two roller derby games, a halftime show (last night it was tap dancing), and some incredible people watching. There’s a few booths to peruse when you need to stretch your legs from stadium seating — T-​shirts, a bake sale, a small silent auction. The Armory also has a concession stand, fully equipped with fried food at concession prices. They sell Heineken and Bud Light. I was able to get a flask in but, whew, was it nerve-​wracking. They search your purse and give you a body scan. Highly recommend a plastic flask.
Roller derby rules are pretty easy once you get the hang of it. One girl can score and the others have to block her from making laps. No using arms or legs. It was surprisingly less combative than I thought it would be. But you can still get into it.
After the games are over, you’re probably going to want to head over to H street, which is the closest place to go out. You still need to drive there though.
Very limited street parking (I’ve heard mixed things about roller derby being an «official stadium event») so recommend that you carpool and park in the $ 10 lot across the street. Doors open at 3, game starts after 4. I’d say you can get there at 3:30, buy your tickets at the door and still have time to get a good seat.

Such a great time. Today’s bout was canceled due to the snow and the government closing early. However, it is a great time. It is so exciting that you can get all the great concessions while watching some great sports. Hard skating, good and plentiful beer and great family fun. If you have never been you are totally missing out. Go. See. Experience. You will love it! Bring your family for sure. They do a lot to make sure that kids will have a good time. Face painting, half time shows of local dance troops or musical acts and bake sales that support the teams.

I have a long list of to-​do activities for 2013 and am just now managing to pack these activities in right before 2014. Seeing a DC Roller Girls bout is one of them and it has finally been accomplished.
I read all of the Unilocal reviews prior to attending and based on my experience today, I will say Pam Z’s review is the most helpful. Make sure to watch the two minute Youtube video she linked in her review. The only thing the video did not touch on which confused me during the game is that there are always supposed to be four blockers per team but sometimes there are less. When there are less than four per team, it’s because those members are in the penalty box, which happens often. The sport is not super aggressive like I remember from watching roller derby as a kid. The teams are respectful of each other for the most part and show good sportsmanship. One thing my friend and I both commented on is that the girls don’t show a huge amount of spirit in the way of high fiving each other or cheering each other on. It’s much more subdued. There is still plenty of action and people do fall down and get hurt, but just not to the extent you might expect.
Another review mentioned that the announcer does a good job of calling the action. I did not find that to be the case. I found the announcer to be distracting and uninformative so I highly suggest watching theYoutbe video as an introduction instead. Also, the DC Roller Girls is a league comprised of four teams and an All-​Star team. There is no «one» DC Roller Girls team. I did not figure that out until the entire second match started. There is a DC Roller Girls question girl (wears a very large question mark on her helmet; really you cannot miss her and her fairy wings) who will answer any questions you might have during the game.
There are no bad seats in the house. You can take your time getting to the venue. There is really no rush as there is plenty of seating and it’s a laid back environment. I bought my tickets in advance ($ 20/​ea). Ticketmaster sent the tickets directly to my phone and they were scanned in at the door. The ticket line at the door was not that long so you could always purchase onsite.
The event itself was interesting and entertaining. I came here with a friend and we left early but I will attend again now that I know what is going on. I also think it makes it more entertaining when you know more about the individual roller girls. Beer would also help.
Parking: There is a $ 15 parking garage across the street from the venue. The metro is the same distance (Stadium/​Armory) as the parking garage, so metro is probably the best option (especially if there is a game at RFK). There was street parking available approximately three blocks away on 17^th street. Closer in, there are signs that say No Parking During Stadium Events and one Unilocaler mentioned that this counts as a stadium event. I am not sure if this is true or not.
Armory: I did not recognize the Armory and it had a funny title like National Guard something or other. The large brown building near the stadium is the Armory (there is a helicopter in the front). Maybe other DC’ers already know this, but I did not recognize it. The Armory is not air-​conditioned, which is fine in the winter months but might be uncomfortable in the summer.
Security: Your bags will be checked and you will be scanned with a wand. The worst part about this is that when they check your bags, your bags end up behind you and really anyone in line could take something out of your bag. The guards were not paying attention. It made me very uneasy.

If you’ve never been to a derby bout, go. Go now. Well, not now, but check out their schedule and then go.
The DC derby… excuse me, roller girls did not disappoint in their 1^st set of bouts of the season. I’d been to a couple bouts out in AZ, but I was surprised at how family friendly the DC experience is (stage names excluded, of course). There were kids everywhere! And they were into it!
As for the ladies, they were awesome. They made it look easy and put on a really good show.
I also loved that they had some local businesses w/​tables there (that dessert table is a MUST visit). They also offer a good amount of merch for each team.
The DC Armory may be a little tough to get to, and hot as anything, but it’s so worth it. Even the mayor of DC made it out there! Support the DC Rollergirls! You’ll have a great time, you’ll see.
Go Scare Force One!

There is no better show in DC for $ 12 on a Saturday afternoon. Period.
Roller derby is the fastest growing women’s sport in the world. DC Rollergirls was founded in 2006, and plays WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) rules, a.k.a. this is a flat track, not a banked track.
It’s sorta like the movie Whip It, but sorta not. Yeah, there’s the glitter, spandex, big hits, and crazy punny derby names (my current faves being Condoleeza Slice and Stabigail Adams). Yes, there is a wonderful community of women (and men!) who volunteer, skate, referee, manage, keep score, teach, train, bleed, sweat, and cry so this sport exists. And you can see it all right here in DC!
DCRG has four home teams that play each other (Majority Whips, Cherry Blossom Bombshells, Scare Force One and DC Demoncats), as well as a travel team that plays regionally/​nationally (DC All Stars). Usually, their bouts are double headers with a combination of two home teams playing each other, but occasionally you’ll have a visiting team giving the All Stars a run for their money.
Currently, DC Rollergirls plays at the Armory just off of Stadium Armory metro on the blue/​orange line. Bouts are open seating, there’s no re-​entry (sorry smokers), and no outside food (Armory rules). The Armory vendors aren’t bad, but it’s a bit pricey and your beer choices are limited (eg. PBR, Modello). Also, don’t forget to check out their bake sale, face painting, and the merchandise table.
GAMEPLAY OVERVIEW
For those of you who are really interested in how the games actually work, check out this video for a good overview (
). The rules have been updated in January 2013, but you’ll get the fundamentals of what’s going on.
Basically, there are two teams, each field five players. There are two basic positions (Jammers and Blockers). Jammers have a star on their helmet and are the only people who can score. They score by legally passing opposing players after their first lap. Blockers basically help their Jammer get through, and stop the other team. The real rule set can get a little complicated, but the announcers are also really good at explaining the game during gameplay. And while it’s a full contact sport, you cannot just clothesline people or punch someone in the face (you have no idea how often that gets asked or assumed).

Went with Wifey and another friend for the first time, having exactly zero idea what it was about or the rules or the crowd or whatever.
I have to say, I was pretty impressed. The sport is better than I thought, with legitimate strategic plays, pretty good action, pretty good pace. I found it to be a combination of football and racing, with some elements of both. Probably less «hard hitting» than I expected, but there were still plenty of solid hits and spills. The demonstration at the beginning was good but I found the Wikipedia article to really be helpful on the phone when I wanted to learn some nuances of the game.
The real fun, to me, was the environment. It’s pretty chill and relaxed, everyone is pretty friendly, and it’s generally fun to watch the show. There was «halftime» entertainment, etc. Tickets are very reasonably priced, although the food/​beverages are not so much.
Not sure if I’ll become a hard core fan, but it’s absolutely worth checking out if you’re looking for some cool winter entertainment.

I love roller derby. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s exciting. It is also the only sport that my wife enjoys watching. We saw Whip It and decided to check out DCRG and have been hooked since fall of 2009. We even went up to Toronto for the inaugural roller derby World Cup.
It’s inexpensive ($ 12 per ticket) and it’s totally fun. Most bouts are at the Armory, which is easy to get to by car or metro. Ok, the Armory itself isn’t the greatest venue, but trust me, there are worse. If nothing else, the Armory has great sightlines and there aren’t any bad seats. For those who are more adventurous (and 18 years old), sitting trackside in the so-​called «suicide seats» is as fun as it gets. You can really feel just how fast these women are going, but there is a chance that you may get hit by a crashing derby girl.

Good, cheap, clean (except for a few of the names of the players) fun.
The game is fun to watch (fairly straightforward rules). They have one of the best bake sales that I have ever had (lurve the marshmellows and giant cookies!).
The crowd is… eclectic (I have been to a lot of SF and Animé con’s, nothing will cause me to bat an eyelid after some of those experiences). Everything from families with small children, hipsters sipping on their beers, to people in costume (both related to the event or just because).
It really is a fun way to spend a couple of hours!

My husband and I have been coming to DC Rollergirls bouts since 2009. The bouts are affordable, addictive and a lot of fun. In fact, roller derby is the only sport I watch (and this is saying something, since I was *that* uncoordinated kid in gym class whom everyone made fun of, and I’ve never cared enough to learn the rules about any other sport).
If you’ve never been before, there’s always a demonstration and explanation of the rules at the beginning of the game, and other fans are always happy to explain the rules to you or to answer a question. There’s nice interaction with the rollergirls, too, and fun events for the kids. If Karen Mary Co. is there with baked goods, you must buy something – these homemade treats are absolutely delicious (and made by a former DC Rollergirl’s husband).
If you’re looking for an affordable afternoon that’s suitable for all ages and looking to try something new, give roller derby a try and support this volunteer-​run league. (The skaters not only pay to play but do the work to put on the bouts, such as securing sponsorships, advertising the events and lining up half-​time entertainment.) Plus, the Armory is a great venue for roller derby – not a bad seat in the house.

If you feel you’ve come home to your people in a crowd of hipsters, if you wish you had the nerve to wear sparkly hot pants with fishnets as an everyday fashion statement, and if you LOVED rollerskating back when you were a kid, this is a very good way to spend an afternoon.
I was impressed by how well the anouncers explained the game so everyone could get into the experience, and I loved the kitschy, fun stuff — like the bake sale, and the trick rollerskaters at half time.
The Armory venue is retro-​cool-​tastic, and parking is easy. I think this is the perfect event for a gang of 6 to 10 year old girls. Very girrrl-​power. Helpful hint: buy your ticket in advance. The on-​site purchase lines are insanely long.

Fun fun fun. Loved the crowd. It reminded me of Seattle. They also have beer and cupcakes, how can that be wrong.

Lots of fun. its a must go for the entire family. Go with an empty stomach so you can purchase some of the great treats. The shirts are also fun.
Its a great way to spend a day with friends. Roller Derby is action packed. Do a wikipedia search on the rules so you aren’t too confused when you get there.

Honestly, meh. I would say Carol C.‘s review is accurate.
Maybe I built it up to myself too much but I didn’t really think the roller derby match I saw was anything special. I was expecting a fast paced game, girls in hot outfits, shoving and lots of cat fights. What I got was a very slow and boring race where there were actually rules against getting too physical. What the hell is that?! I’ve only been to one game so I would probably give it another try, but as of now I am not impressed.

An absolutely fantastic day out.
Crowd was made up of ironic hipsters slamming down the PBRs and lots of families with kids enjoying the action.
Thing 1 and Thing 2 took a while to warm up to it, but half way through they went over to the Suicide Seats (right on the edge of the rink on the ground) with Soccerballgirl and enjoyed the up close view.
At $ 12 a ticket, and $ 6 for under 12, it is great value. No bad seats in the house and announcers and player names which make it all very entertaining and worth while.

Unilocal reviewers, You led me seriously astray with this experience.
I paid 10 bucks to park and 12 bucks to watch women roller skate around a makeshift excuse for a «rink» in the DC armory. We sat in plastic chairs on the armory floor, drinking $ 9 bud lights, for 1.5 hours til we gave up on trying to get into this sport. If you like the Nascar crowd, you might be at home here.
it’s like watching baseball in the nosebleed seats. You are drinking a bit, hanging out with some friends, while something is going on in the background that you don’t really care about.

Checked this out today and it was so much fun. Very exciting and surprisingly family friendly. Left early because I was hungry as this whole place is cash only, so this is the only thing keeping the 5^th star away. I decided I’m a Demon Cat fan, but really just pick any team and have fun. They even explain all the rules before things get started so you can enjoy the game without any previous rollergirl exposure. I also appreciated that the girls are all shapes and sized — no pressure on being anorexic thin here! :) How great! Also lots of kids taking advantage of the free face painting. Good, healthy fun — makes me want to join in! Now if only I could skate…

I love roller derby. I loved roller derby before it became popular again. And due some amazing luck, I have a best friend who has an uncanny nose for ferreting out all the subcultures that I’ve always loved, but never thought had enough of a fanbase to become a subculture! Who knew that I was cool and a trendsetter all these years?
Anyways, shortly after it’s inception, my BFF introduced me to the Charm City Roller Girls, and my socks were completely blown off. Amazing ladies, short jams, and the most über adorable outfits *ever*. I went up to Baltimore a few times for the bouts but a combination of getting lost *way* to easily — even with a GPS, and an overpacked schedule that doesn’t allow for hour long drives each way, put a quick kibosh on me being a regular attendee.
So when I found out that the DC had their own roller girls team, how could I not attend?! And down at the Armory? So convenient!
Now, I love the DC Roller Girls. They are pretty amazing, very friendly, and adorably cute! They are just as vicious, fast, and fantastic as the CCRGs, but I have to ask… what happened to the cute outfits?!? Scare-​Force One would be adorable in a punked out stewardess mini-​dress. The DemonCats would be so fetching in cute little pinstripe vests and matching hotpants. And the Cherry Blossom Bombshells… well, let’s just say that if anyone from the DCRGs are reading this and are interested in new outfits — call me! I’ll sew my little fingers off to make fantastic new kickin’ (yet, functional) outfits for you!
I’m eagerly anticipating the day that roller derby becomes the #1 sport in the nation!

I’ve been wanting to check out a roller derby match for years, and I finally got my opportunity via a double header at the DC Armory last night.
You don’t have to know anything about roller derby to enjoy this experience. The place was pretty packed, so the crowd’s excitement definitely added to the fun. The announcers were over the top and funny, while also explaining the rules and plays going on.
I expected girly girls beating the crap out of each other on the rink, but I didn’t expect the level of athleticism, strategy and teamwork that I saw gong on. And, it was definitely fun watching the girls take spills every so often.
The place was so packed, they almost ran out of beer, and the lines for the beer were pretty long, too.
But, overall a cool experience and one I might try again.

What’s more fun than watching girls wearing fishnets while knocking each other down? Watching ones doing exactly that on roller-​skates!
Today was the season opener, with bouts between the DC DemonCats and the Cherry-​Blossom Bombshells. Being a complete n00b to the sport (is roller derby considered a sport?) I appreciated the brief intro demo about the differences between jammers, blockers, and pivots, how scoring works, and what’s allowed and not allowed. Even armed with that information, I wasn’t prepared for how much actually happens on the rink! If not for the solid announcer, I would have had an even more challenging time keeping up with the fast and furious action.
Perhaps not quite as rowdy as the Kastles matches, there was still a respectable crowd cheering everyone on — it didn’t seem like there were necessarily fans for any particular team, but just general rooting for everyone.
If you’ve never been out to a bout here, you’re long overdue!
(Plus, after-​party at The Argonaut? Seriously, coolest live entertainment ever!)

Just who the heck are the «DC Rollergirls?» From their web site fact sheet:
«Formed in 2006, the DC Rollergirls are the National Capital Region’s only women’s flat-​track roller derby league. Rollergirls possess a healthy appetite for physical competition and pride in their community. We aim to bring the best roller derby action to our spectators.»
One of my work colleagues skates on one of the DC Rollergirl teams — the DC DemonCats — her skating name is «Mason-​Vixen.» All of the Rollergirls have interesting nicknames as well.
Mason-​Vyxen has been lobbying me and some of my fellow work colleagues to come out and watch them compete. So me and my fellow Systems Engineer Jamie, and his son went down to the DC Armory to catch the fast-​paced action.
It was a bit of a debacle parking — DC United was playing next door at RFK Stadium — the parking lot was a zoo! I had no idea that Professional Soccer was such a big deal. EVERYONE was tailgating in the parking lot! Grills were everywhere! And beer! And Soccer balls! Did I mention there was beer?
We had to walk about a half a mile from the parking lot to the Armory — but it was good for us.
We got there a bit late, but just in time to see the DC DemonCats square off against the Cherry Blossom Bombshells. I got a beer, and a soda and fries for Jamie’s son and we settled in for the match. The whole thing consists of two 15 minute periods. You’ll have to Google to learn the rules and understand the scoring — to long for me to try and describe here. Suffice to say it was fast paced and a bit violent at times. But it was fun and everyone that came out to watch and support them was having a good time!
The Washington Post has an interesting article on the DC Rollergirls:
DC Rollergirls — «With Liberty and Justice to Brawl!»