We get lots of questions from fans about what to expect at Cincinnati Rollergirls games. Here are some tips for how to have a great time when you go to see your favorite roller derby team.
How to have a great time at a Cincinnati Rollergirls game
- Study up on the rules! Read these helpful suggestions about how to watch a game or watch this video. If you can, sit next to a veteran fan so you can ask questions.
- Buy tickets in advance through Ticketmaster, the Cincinnati Gardens box office or your favorite rollergirl. The trackside tickets ($15 for ages 18 and up) almost always sell out. There are plenty of general admission tickets ($10 for adults, $5 for kids 7-12 and free for kids 6 and under), but there have been long lines at the ticket windows. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon- Fri and opens at noon on game day. Every minute you’re standing in line is a minute you’re not drinking $1 beers!
- Get there early! Even if you buy tickets in advance, you’ll want to get a good parking spot and good seats. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first game starts at 7 p.m. The Gardens has two large free parking lots, but if they fill up, you may end up paying for parking in a nearby lot not controlled by the Gardens. Please carpool if you can.
- Another reason to arrive early: $1 beers are only served only from 6-7:30 p.m. Stock up!
- A reason to arrive even earlier: You can tailgate!
- Bring extra cash for food (burgers, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, etc.) and for Cincinnati Rollergirls merchandise. We also accept check for merch. Buttons are 50 cents, stickers are $3-$5, T-shirts are $10-$22 and hoodies are $25. There’s also an ATM in the Gardens if you need it.
- Sit higher up in the stands if you’re having trouble hearing the announcers. The acoustics aren’t great in the Gardens, but fans have told us that they can hear the announcers best in the stands. We’re constantly making improvements to our sound system so everyone can hear.
- Plan your food, beer and bathroom breaks so you don’t miss a minute of the action. CRG’s JV team, the Silent Lambs, plays first – it’s a 40-minute game with a brief break between periods. Then there’s a halftime, followed by the Black Sheep (varsity) game, which consists of two 30-minute periods with a brief break in between.
- Stick around until the end of the Black Sheep game, even if we’re crushing the competition. Skaters sign autographs, pose for photos and talk to fans after ever game.
- Join the home and visiting teams at our official after-party location, Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Pleasant Ridge. Turn right out of the Gardens onto Seymour and then turn right on Langdon Farm Road. Follow it until you reach Montgomery Road and turn left. Molly Malone’s is just past Ridge on the left. You can park on the street or in the large parking lot past the Burger King on the right.
- Of course, the best way to watch the game is to be there, but if you can’t make it down to The Cincinnati Gardens, visit Derby News Network to participate in the boutcast and watch each double-header online.