The Case For Roller Derby Coverage

As I have mentioned before, while I am very happy and excited that Derby

1) It is a real sport. Yes the uniforms are for the most part free form and unorthodox by many standards, the actual play and outcome are just as real as baseball or football.

2) Derby fans are incredibly loyal and come from a large cross section: From the WFTDA website:

“Our 2010 demographic survey indicates that roller derby fans and skaters are highly loyal to their new favorite sport and come from all walks of life,” said Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director. “This survey also reveals alternate interests within our sporting community, allowing us to target promotional partners. The results of this survey prepare the WFTDA and its individual member leagues to develop marketing and sponsorship opportunities for our emerging extreme team sport.”

 

Many of the groups of people in the demographics in the WFTDA survey are the same groups that newspaper and TV news are trying to attract for their readership/viewership, not to mention those who advertise in print and on TV.

3) Fans need information: Fans will want to know what happened at a bout that they either could not attend couldn't because the bout was too far away or sold out. 

4) Attendance shows that there is an interest in Derby: If newspapers and sports departments understand the basics of supply and demand, then they should understand that, here in the Hawkeye State at least, there is a interest in the sport that goes beyond the occasional human interest story.

5) This sport is not a Parks and Rec. activity: The women who play flat track roller derby can't just walk off the street and get into a bout. A skills test, designed to prove the basic competency of potential Derby girl. Whereas I (the author) can walk in from the street and play Parks and Rec. softball, a Derby girl may have to work weeks or even months before she can even think about participating in a bout. This shows that while the Derby girl maybe amateurs, they are a cut above the quality of many Parks and Rec. teams and deserving of more media attention as that.

There are other reasons I am sure that I am not thinking of.  But that is the basic gist.