(A Michi-chan opinionated bitch)
Yesterday on Michichan.com and leadjammer.com, we had released a story stating that the Arizona Roller Derby (AZRD) Tent City Terrors would bout the Arizona Derby Dames (AZDD) Lady Lux in August. While this story did get some responses from people believing that it would actually happen, it was an April Fools prank.
But what if it wasn't?
Phoenix has some really good derby. We are privileged here in the Valley because between AZDD, AZRD and Renegades, we have pretty much three intensity levels of derby. Not too many markets can make this claim.
Some who have been into derby for a long time or those who follow derby history will know the history about AZRD and what lead up to the creation of the Dames.
While there may be some out there who may still not like the other league, we must take into consideration the many new skaters who have been recruited by each league. Many of them do not know the history and a majority of them I speak to don't really care. They just want to skate. They see the other league as just that, another derby league in Phoenix. You occasionally see skaters from one league attending bouts of the other league. If these skaters had bad feelings towards the other league, this would not be taking place.
Now with that in mind, why not finally have an AZDD vs. AZRD bout? I think that the dust has finally settled between the two leagues. Especially with the possibility of AZRD moving back to the Castle Sports Club, the competition for a derby fan's weekly derby dollar will go away and the Castle turns into the primary derby venue in Phoenix. This would be the perfect opportunity for AZRD to show their fan base, who may have been used to only going to Casey's to check out the Castle venue.
As proven by the last AZRD bout, if you get a comfortable derby watching environment without a lot of weather extremes (either too cold or too hot), the fans will come out. This reportedly happened during the Bruiser-Surly bout this past weekend. AZRD does have fans and that last bout proved it.
The AZDD has a date in August that has been set aside as a Lady Lux demo bout. I did have knowledge of what was being considered for that night but due to changes in the derby landscape here in the Valley, that situation is no longer possible.
So, how about seeing the Lux take on the TCT's in a street rules type of game similar to the way the Lux played last year in Vegas? I think it will be a great opportunity for each league and the Castle to introduce fans of one league to the other.
When I am at the bouts, I do get questions from fans asking "do they do this here every week?". Being league independent, I will hopefully be able to answer "no, but there are two leagues that play here so you can enjoy derby about twice a month." The fans want more derby. With the Dames' $10 door price and AZRD's $12 door, spending $22 a month per person on derby is one of the best sports values in town and you get to see a wide variety of Arizona's best skaters.
So, AZDD & AZRD, work out the financials and other issues and let's give the fans one hell of a show this year. I think they will love it.
with derby love...
Michelle A. Eyre/Michi-chan
=m
