sponsorship - Women`s Flat Track Derby Association

“The new wave of professional women’s roller derby
is on the fast track to success. The current generation
of blockers and jammers is anything but a sideshow.
Instead, the skaters have created a new way of life—
Blending athleticism and personality in unique ways
that make the sport fascinating to watch. Their speed
and strength are as real as their colorful nicknames
and even more colorful tattoos!”
- KCRA, Sacramento
Sponsorship
2009
REAL. STRONG. ATHLETIC. REVOLUTIONARY.
“We had a great experience. Our
online hits have increased noticeably
in the few days that we have been back
from Nationals. I would definitely
be a WFTDA sponsor again.”
- Corinne Taylor
Emerald City Skates
X-Khan (aka, Rani Khan), Sponsorship Chair [email protected]
Chica Loca (aka, Gabriell Garcia), Marketing/PR Chair [email protected]
Be A Part of the Roller Derby Phenomenon!
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) promotes and fosters the sport of women’s flat
track roller derby and facilitates the development of athletic ability, sports-womanship, and goodwill among its member
leagues. Under a governing philosophy of “by the skaters, for the skaters,” member leagues are primarily owned, managed, and operated by the female skaters who make up the association. The WFTDA currently comprises 76 leagues in 36
states and Canada, with new leagues accepted regularly.
League numbers are growing exponentially across the U.S. and the world, so now is the time to cement your
relationship with this high-profile sport that Bob Dotson of NBC Nightly News has called “the fastest growing
sport in America.”
Flat-track roller derby has captured the hearts and minds of a diverse and highly-sought demographic. With disposable
incomes, an insatiable appetite for life, and an intense dedication to the lifestyle of knock-your-socks off excitement,
larger-than-life personalities, and the work hard/play hard ethic of extreme sports, roller derby fans and players alike are
a demographic you want.
To learn more about specific sponsorship opportunities with the WFTDA and its member leagues, contact us at
[email protected].
“Hey, Susan B, this is what a feminist looks like: mascaraed, fishnetted, roller-skated, and tough as all fuck.
Roller derby, as played by the Charm City Roller Girls, is a juiced-up, punked-up, no-faking full-contact sport
that’s equal parts theater, athletics, and good old time. Any fool who’s mistaking what they’re offering for a
slap fight on wheels is going to be mighty surprised when the helmeted contestants (with psycho drag-queen
names like Joy Collision and Ivana E. Chabrains) go at each other like, duh, real athletes. Let’s see, you get to
skate fast, hit hard, give as good as you get, wear awesome clothes and glam-rock makeup, and, maybe best of
all, meet lots of other women who think and feel the same uncompromising way you do. Who wouldn’t want to
grow up to be a Roller Girl?”
- Baltimore City Paper, Best of Baltimore, 2006, Charm City Roller Girls, Best Girl Power
The WFTDA benefits from the combined marketing genius of
the member leagues, and the viral, grassroots success of flat-track
roller derby. Our collective numbers are the backbone of the
WFTDA and our means of showcasing supporters at the league
and WFTDA levels.
Derby Growth
400
Who attends a roller derby bout
Target age: 20-45 years old, Average age: 36.4 years old
Male: 47%, Female: 53%
White: 80%, African-American: 15%, Other: 5%
Average income: $40,000 - $70,000 annually
Straight: 75%, GLBT: 25%
2008
350
300
Number of Leagues
Roller Derby’s Explosive Growth Rates
Number of roller derby leagues at the end of 2005: 50
Number of roller derby leagues at the end of 2006: 108
Number of roller derby leagues at the end of 2007: 235
Number of roller derby leagues in existence in 2008: 372+
What percentage of those leagues are playing by WFTDA rules: 82%
Number of WFTDA leagues in 2008: 57
Number of WFTDA leagues in 2009 to date: 76 and counting . . .
250
2007
200
150
2006
100
50
2005
0
Year
Rules
Other Rules
Average number of Web site hits per month, per league
6,000+ unique users
(among 34 responding leagues)
Average number of MySpace “friends” per league
4,800
(among 34 responding leagues)
WFTDA Rules
Average attendance at a roller derby bout
1,300 – with an average venue capacity of 1,600
(among 34 responding leagues)
International Derby Explosion
Leagues around the world receive guidance from the WFTDA and continue the flat-track roller derby revolution.
In addition to the leagues in the United States, there are over 51 international leagues, from countries as far away
as Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden and more!
“By being a WFTDA sponsor, our visibility across the world has increased our sales and helps to
build our brand identity.” - KelKat, Rink Rash Skatewear
The 2009 WFTDA
tournaments will feature
full size, 8 1/2 x 11inch programs designed
to provide national
exposure, and help
visitors and fans navigate
the arenas, vendors, and
host cities. We expect
thousands of fans at each
of the 2009 tournaments;
the programs enhance
both their experience
and the exposure of our
sponsors.
REAL.
Real skaters, real competition.
The world of WFTDA moves pretty fast.
www.wftda.com has stats, roller derby rules and
information, links to league, fan and derby lifestyle
websites and message boards, all updated regularly
to keep skaters and fans on top of the game.
2009 Tourney Info:
Western Regional Tournament
October 2-4 Denver, CO
Eastern Regional Tournament September 11-13
Raleigh, NC
North Central Regional Tournament September 18-20 St. Paul, MN
South Central Regional Tournament September 26-27 Atlanta, GA
WFTDA Championship Tournament November 13-15 Philadelphia, PA
Venue: Bladium Sports Club
Content: 2 rinks with 53,000 sq feet of indoor space
Venue: Dorton Arena
Capacity: 4750
Venue: The Legendary Roy Wilkins Arena Capacity: 4000+
Venue: Yaarab Shrine Center
Capacity: 500
Venue: The Pennsylvania Convention Center
Capacity: 2500+
WFTDA Sponsorship Levels
The WFTDA sponsorship packages are designed to highlight our relationships with athletic and lifestyle-relevant businesses.
Partnering with the WFTDA to promote your organization includes benefits such as logo placement on website and in promotional material, program ads, announcer mentions, prominent banner visibility, VIP tickets, title tournament sponsorship,
vendor booths, product placement and promotion, skater appearances, product endorsement, and multimedia branding and
visibility.
For information on packages and pricing, or to build a customized sponsorship, contact a WFTDA Sponsorship representative or email us at [email protected].
PRINT
• The Associated Press • Reuters • The Village Voice • The Washington Post
• The Washington Times • The New York Times • The Wall Street Journal
• The LA Times • The Chicago Tribune • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• The Baltimore Sun • Spin Magazine • Rolling Stone Magazine • ESPN
Magazine • InsideSPORT • Austin Fit • The Urbanite • Skin & Ink • Tattoo
• Cigar Aficionado • Elle • ElleGirl Marie Claire • W Magazine • Women’s
Wear Daily • Jane Bust Bitch • L Magazine • Velvet Park • Out Traveler
• Reader’s Digest • Spirit (Southwest Airlines) • Blackbook • Paper • Fancy
• Playboy • Hustler • Menzo • Where? • Maxim • The New Yorker • The
Onion • Newsweek • Time
Radio/TV
NPR’s All Things Considered • NPR’s Marketplace • ESPN Radio
Right Guard commercial • Aleve commercial
• ABC: Good Morning America • ABC: Wife Swap • MSNBC • CNN: Paula
Zahn Now • ESPN: Cold Pizza • CBS: Early Show • CBS Sunday • CBS: Survivor
• NBC: Today Show • NBC: 1 vs. 100 • Fox News: Fox & Friends • CNN: 360
with Anderson Cooper • CNN: Headline News Comcast Sports Net • MTV:
Next • MTV: True Life • HGTV: Trading Spaces • Food Network: Ace of Cakes
• Style Network: Party Plan-Off • MavTV • Women’s Sports Network • Fuel TV:
Captain and Casey Show • BBC 2 French Television • CBN (Canadian Broadcast
Network) • Fuse TV: The Rock n’ Roll Acid Test • Cartoon Network: Adult Swim
*2007 also saw the creation of 2 Roller Derby magazines (Blood and Thunder and
Derby Gal) as well as 2 books (Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Flat Track
and Roller Derby).
From Steve Severn, CEO MavTV:
“...we are very happy to partner with the WFTDA to expand coverage of this growing sport where
the athletes truly play for the love of the game. Women’s Flat Track Derby matches in HD are truly
original content that can only be found on MavTV at this time. We look forward to seeing how our
viewers respond to the excitement and competition between the top women’s teams in the US.”
The WFTDA Audience and Media Coverage
In “real life”, the skaters of the WFTDA are artists, business owners, public speakers, scientists, PR and marketing specialists, mothers, volunteers, public servants, rock stars, teachers, accountants and professors, and when they step on the track their friends and
family are in the front row.
Modern roller derby appeals to people from all walks of life, from aging fans of the banked track, to 20-something hipsters who,
before roller derby, wouldn’t have been caught dead at a sporting event. Our demographics cut a wide swath across gender, race
and age, with the average fan in the middle-to upper middle-class tax bracket and between 20-45 years old. The WFTDA member
leagues provide quality, family-friendly entertainment with an edgy component that captures the imagination of fans and the media.
The 2009 WFTDA tournaments offer an outstanding opportunity for our sponsors to gain incredible visibility with skaters and fans.
The roller derby resurgence receives great local and national media exposure; with multiple television and other media deals in the
works, the WFTDA and its member leagues are poised to continue their exponential growth.
TV Coverage
In 2007, television saw the return of roller derby on MavTV! In a historic HD broadcast, the entirety of the WFTDA Eastern Regional and National Tournament aired as full-length games weekly on MavTV. Sponsors enjoyed visual promotion through the MavTV
coverage and 30-second commercial spots. In 2008, they received further exposure through the rebroadcast of the tournaments on
Women Sports TV, as well as online through the MavTV broadband player. MavTV reaches a national audience of over 12 million
on cable and satellite providers, as well as an international audience in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand.
For 2009, WFTDA is negotiating TV and other media deals for tournaments and some interleague games, which will provide sponsors with broadcast visibility, sponsorship add-ons with broadcast partners and more opportunities for brand placement alongside
these high-profile female athletes.
A Roller Derby Video Game???
Recently, WFTDA announced that it has partnered exclusively with Frozen Codebase LLC, to bring modern roller derby to the
world of video games. As a leading independent video game developer of original intellectual property, Frozen Codebase is excited
to enter into an exclusive partnership with the WFTDA to bring flat track derby to life as a cutting edge video game. According to
Norb Rozek, Vice President of Frozen Codebase, “Derby’s sense of community and emergent subcultural identity reminds me a lot
of the early days of the punk scene, but with appeal to a broader fanbase. Plus it’s a gas!”
STRONG.
“You have to be tough to endure the physical demands of
the sport of roller derby”. -Love Chicago April 2006
The following leagues are proud to partner with the WFTDA in
hosting a 2009 tournament.
“Southern Fried Smackdown “Atlanta Rollergirls
WFTDA SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2009
Yaarab Shrine Center, Atlanta GA
Atlanta truly has something for everyone. If you’re a tourist visiting
for the first time, a visit to one of many national landmarks may be in
order, or a trip to Six Flags or a tour of CNN Studios. If food is what
you crave, Atlanta offers some of the world’s best restaurants and
certainly some of the best meals you’ll find anywhere in the South.
Home to the world’s busiest airport, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center,
artsy Little Five Points and Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta is not
a destination, it is an experience. Visit for a weekend or live here for
years and you will always find something new and enjoyable in the
capitol of the South.
South
Located in Midtown, the Yaarab Shrine Center seats 500. Abundant
parking, beautiful courtyard and fast, easy access to local restaurants
and hotels make this an ideal location for any derby event.
ATHLETIC.
“It’s a sport. It’s a spectacle. It’s for moms and dads and kids and couples and anybody who wants to see modern roller derby queens racing and mixing it up in a feverish display of estrogen-fueled mayhem.” -The Kansas City Star, June 26th, 2006
WFTDA EASTERN REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2009
East
“Wicked Wheels of the East” Carolina Rollergirls
Dorton Arena, Raleigh NC
Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, is known for its natural beauty, its
relationship to Research Triangle Park and its universities and colleges. Visitors to
the city will enjoy the museums in Raleigh’s downtown area, including the Museum
of Natural Sciences and the Museum of History. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the North
Carolina Museum of Art—just a mile from Dorton Arena. On Saturdays and Sundays
many of the locals like to peruse the large flea market held at the fairgrounds. You
never know what you may find. Raleigh has no shortage of shopping, from the eclectic
boutiques of Cameron Village, to the largest indoor mall in the area—Crabtree Valley
Mall. In the evening, head downtown and see how this area is enjoying a revitalization
that has added energy, music and food to districts such as Fayetteville Street, City
Market and Glenwood South—to name a few. For more information about this
charming southern city, visit the official tourism site, VisitRaleigh.com.
Opened in 1952, Dorton Arena
(www.ncstatefair.org/dorton.
htm) is known for its striking
architecture and is listed in the
National Register of Historic
Places. The arena, located on
the state fairgrounds, has 4,750
permanent seats. The 25,000
square-foot elliptical building
has a spacious central concrete
floor with room for a full derby
track, trackside seating and
vendor space. The arena’s large
lobby allows for additional
vendor booths.
West
“Derby on the Rocks“ Denver Roller Dolls &
Rocky Mountain Roller Girls
WFTDA WESTERN REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
OCTOBER 2-4, 2009
Bladium Sports Club, Denver CO
Denver is dubbed the “Mile High City”
because its elevation is exactly one
mile or 5, 280 feet above sea level. With
over 300 days of sunshine a year and
mild, sunny winters, the weather is
hard to beat, and the city has much to
offer. There is no shortage of outdoor
activities in the city or within a short
drive to the foothills. Depending on
the weather, some of Denver’s closest
ski resorts open as early as October for
early season snowboarding and skiing.
When you’re ready to relax with some
food and drinks, LoDo, or lower downtown Denver has over 100 options.
Downtown Denver has great shopping districts at Larimer Square and on the
16th Street Pedestrian Mall. The upscale Cherry Creek North neighborhood
features a mix of high end department stores with a pedestrian-friendly
neighborhood of independently owned specialty boutiques and galleries.
Colfax Avenue is an up and coming area with lots of quirky art galleries,
jewelry stores, tattoo parlors, independent restaurants, and great people
watching. The people of Denver take pride in their eco-savvy city. The free
public transport busses on the 16th Street Mall are hybrids, and many Denver
businesses have taken huge strides to become “green”.
North
“Brawl of America“ Minnesota Rollergirls
WFTDA NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2009
The Legendary Roy Wilkins Arena, St. Paul MN
For people seeking truly unique urban experiences, Saint
Paul is Minnesota’s must-see capital. Located along the
Mississippi River, St. Paul is known for it’s architecture,
parks, festivals, restaurants and theatre. Saint Paul hosts
a number of museums including the University of Minnesota’s Goldstein Museum of Design, The Minnesota
Children’s Museum, The Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments, The Minnesota Museum of American Art,
The Traces Center for History and Culture, The Minnesota
History Center, The Alexander Ramsey House, The James
J. Hill House, The Minnesota Transportation Museum, The
Science Museum of Minnesota, and The Twin City Model
Railroad Museum. For more information on the city, please
visit www.visitstpaul.com.
The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium is a part of the
River Center complex that plays home to the Minnesota
Wild hockey team, Minnesota Swarm rugby team and the
Minnesota RollerGirls roller derby league. With seating for
over 4000 spectators, the Roy Wilkins has been noted to be
one of the country’s premier roller derby venues, and will
host the North Central Regional Tournament this fall.
“Declaration of Derby” Philly Rollergirls
WFTDA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
NOVEMBER 13-15, 2009
The Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
The Philly Rollergirls are excited to host the 2009 WFTDA
National Tournament, Declaration of Derby, at the
Pennsylvania Convention Center (PaCC). The tournament
will span over 100,000 sq feet and will feature a large skater/
staff area with warm-up rink, as well as the main event rink,
chair/bleacher seating for 2,500, and extra spectator and
attendee mingling space. Located in the heart of Center
City Philadelphia, the PaCC is adjacent to a major hotel
and connected to the hub of the city’s public transportation
system. This central location will facilitate public access,
reduce travel expenses, and increase enjoyment for all
attendees to the tournament and associated activities.
Staging the tournament in a major metropolitan media market
will enable local and national news and sports affiliate stations
to cover the tournament — and women’s flat track roller
derby — as never before! The Philly Rollergirls look forward to
sharing the historic culture of the City of Sisterly Shove with
our roller derby family from all over the world.
“I think Flat Track Derby is one of the hottest
tickets in the sports world and the WFTDA is
the premiere association for the many leagues
and teams playing this sport. We are delighted
to work with them and look forward to a long
profitable relationship in all areas.”
- Catherine Masters, Executive Director,
Women’s Sports Cares
REAL.
STRONG.
ATHLETIC.
REVOLUTIO NARY.
Contact Us!
X-Khan (aka, Rani Khan)
WFTDA Sponsorship Chair
206-604-0263
[email protected]
Chica Loca (aka, Gabriell Garcia)
WFTDA Marketing/PR Chair
(443) 690-4664
[email protected]
Rocket Mean (aka, Kim Stegeman)
Sponsorship Sales Manager
(503) 784-1444
[email protected]
Dixie Derby Girls - Huntsville, AL
NWA Rollergirls - Fayetteville, AR
Arizona Roller Derby - Phoenix, AZ
Tucson Roller Derby - Tucson, AZ
Angel City Derby Girls - Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Roller Derby - Paso Robles, CA
Sacred City Derby Girls - Sacramento, CA
B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls - San Francisco, CA
Pikes Peak Derby Dames - Colorado Springs, CO
Denver Roller Dolls - Denver, CO
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls - Denver, CO
FoCo Girls Gone Derby - Fort Collins, CO
Slaughterhouse Derby Girls - Greeley, CO
CT RollerGirls - Waterbury, CT
DC Rollergirls - Washington, DC
Tallahassie Rollergirls - Tallahassee, FL
Tampa Bay Derby Darlins - Tampa Bay, FL
Atlanta Rollergirls - Atlanta, GA
Pacific Roller Derby - Honolulu, HI
Windy City Rollers - Chicago, IL
Bleeding Heartland Rollerrirls - Bloominton, IN
Fort Wayne Derby Girls - Fort Wayne, IN
Naptown Roller Girls - Indianapolis, IN
Big Easy Rollergirls - New Orleans, LA
Boston Derby Dames - Boston, MA
Charm City Roller Girls - Baltimore, MD
Maine Roller Derby - Portland, ME
Detroit Derby Girls - Detroit, MI
Grand Raggidy Roller Girls - Grand Rapids, MI
North Star Roller Girls - Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota RollerGirls - St. Paul, MN
Arch Rival Roller Girls - St. Louis, MO
Kansas City Roller Warriors - Kansas City, MO
Carolina Rollergirls - Raleigh, NC
No Coast Derby Girls - Lincoln, NE
Omaha Rollergirls - Omaha, NE
Duke City Derby - Albuquerque, NM
Fabulous Sin City Rollergirls - Las Vegas, NV
©2009 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)
Long Island Roller Rebels - Long Island, NY
Gotham Girls Roller Derby - New York, NY
Suburbia Roller Derby - Tarrytown, NY
Cincinnati Rollergirls - Cincinnati, OH
Burning River Roller Girls - Cleveland, OH
Ohio Roller Girls - Columbus, OH
Gem City Rollergirls - Dayton, OH
Oklahoma Victory Dolls - Oklahoma City, OK
Green Country Roller Girls - Tulsa, OK
Emerald City Roller Girls - Eugene, OR
Rose City Rollers - Portland, OR
Harrisburg Area Roller Derby -Harrisburg, PA
Dutchland Derby Rollers - Lancaster, PA
Philly Roller Girls - Philadelphia, PA
Steel City Derby Demons - Pittsburgh, PA
Montréal Roller Derby - Montréal, QC
Providence Roller Derby - Providence, RI
Sioux Falls Roller Dollz - Sioux Falls, SD
Hard Knox Roller Girls - Knoxville, TN
Memphis Roller Derby - Memphis, TN
Nashville Rollergirls - Nashville, TN
Texas Rollergirls - Austin, TX
Assassination City Roller Derby - Dallas, TX
Dallas Derby Devils - Dallas, TX
Houston Roller Derby - Houston, TX
Alamo City Rollergirls - San Antonio, TX
West Texas Roller Dollz - Lubbock, TX
East Texas Bombers - Tyler, TX
Salt City Derby Girls - Salt Lake City, UT
River City Rollergirls - Richmond, VA
Dominion Derby Girls - Norfolk, VA
Bellingham Roller Betties - Bellingham, WA
Jet City Rollergirls - Everett, WA
Oly Rollers - Olympia, WA
Slaughter County Roller Vixens - Port Orchard, WA
Rat City Rollergirls - Seattle, WA
Mad Rollin’ Dolls - Madison, WI
Brewcity Bruisers - Milwaukee, WI
wftda.com