The Cincinnati Rollergirls are winding their way to a new venue in 2017 on Xavier University’s campus! Read the official announcement below.

On Feb. 17, members of Cincinnati’s women’s amateur roller derby team used Facebook Live to announce that they will hold their 2017 home season at Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse, located at 3900 Winding Way on Xavier’s West Campus.
The 3,000-seat facility served as the home of Xavier’s basketball from 1928 to 1983. It’s also hosted events ranging from political speeches (President Bill Clinton in 1996) to professional wrestling. Schmidt is now primarily used by the university’s recreational sports program.
“We’re thrilled to move to Schmidt so we can continue to bring the full-contact sport of competitive women’s roller derby to Greater Cincinnati,” said Cincinnati Rollergirls Operations Director Emilie Westcott, who skates under the name Jillian Dollaz. “There’s a lot of history in these walls, and we’re looking forward to helping to write the next chapter.”
“Xavier Recreational Sports is excited to host roller derby in the Fieldhouse for the first time and introduce a new sport to the surrounding community and campus,” said Glenn Arnold, Xavier’s Assistant Director of Recreational Sports. “We are looking forward to seeing the brand of derby that the Cincinnati Rollergirls bring to our historic venue.”
The Cincinnati Rollergirls called the historic Cincinnati Gardens home from 2007 through 2016. But the team was forced to look for a new venue after the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority announced plans to buy the Gardens in June 2016. The port authority plans to demolish the Gardens this year to make way for a high-tech manufacturing site.
The team spent months exploring potential venues all over Greater Cincinnati, from small sports complexes to large arenas. Key criteria in the search included a central location, size (large enough for a flat roller derby track and at least 1,500 fans), surface (polished concrete or hardwood), availability and affordability. Schmidt offered the team the best combination of the above.
The Cincinnati Rollergirls will hold four games at Schmidt this year, some in conjunction with Cincinnati’s junior and men’s roller derby teams:
March 18: Home Opener
4 p.m. Cincinnati Junior Rollergirls Varsity vs. Black-N-Blue Gems (Dayton/NKY)
6 p.m. Cincinnati Rollergirls Black Sheep vs. Fort Wayne Derby Girls
8 p.m. Cincinnati Battering Rams vs. Capital City Hooligans (Springfield, IL)
April 8: Superhero Night
4 p.m. Cincinnati Junior Rollergirls JV vs. NEOJr
6 p.m. Cincinnati Rollergirls Violent Lambs vs. Circle City Derby Girls (Indianapolis)
8 p.m. Cincinnati Junior Rollergirls Varsity vs. Nashville Junior Roller Derby
May 6: Star Wars Night
6 p.m. Cincinnati Rollergirls Black Sheep vs. Beckley Area Derby Dames (Beckley, WV)
8 p.m. Cincinnati Rollergirls Violent Lambs vs. TBA
June 10: Fan Appreciation Night
6 p.m. Cincinnati Rollergirls Black Sheep vs. Cornfed Derby Dames (Muncie, IN)
8 p.m. Cincinnati Rollergirls Violent Lambs vs. Derby City Roller Girls (Louisville, KY)
Tickets will be available through Brown Paper Tickets at the following prices:
• 4-game season ticket package: $40 adults, $15 children 7-12 (children 6 and younger are free). Season tickets include reserved seating, a merch discount and a CRG poster.
• Adults: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
• Children 7-12: $5 in advance, $7 at the door
• Children 6 and under: Free
• College students and staff: $7 at the door only with valid ID
• Group tickets: $10/adult for groups in advance only; tickets for children joining the group must be purchased separately
One ticket provides admission to any and all games on each date – fans can arrive and leave when they wish.
The Cincinnati Rollergirls are currently ranked 61st out of 318 teams worldwide by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the sport’s governing body.
The team drew an average of 1,100 fans to each of five double-headers at the Gardens in 2016. The team’s June 11, 2016 home season finale was the last public event held at the Gardens.
For answers to frequently asked questions about CRG’s 2017 season, click here.
-Lauren “Miss Print” Bishop