The following was a Myspace bulletin posted today. The AZDR has verified the authenticity of this announcement:
"A group representing various people in the Phoenix Roller Derby Community have established a new league in Phoenix.
The new league is completely independent from the existing leagues in the Valley and was not created through any kind of "split" from the other leagues.
This league will consist of female & male teams as well as a co-ed team that will also be the travel team.
The new league has already applied for and has received approval to operate under the auspices of the Old School Derby Association thus bringing the western United States their second OSDA league.
More details including league name, team names, website and information on opportunities within the league will follow."
Comments
Submitted by Holly Gohardly on April 16, 2008 - 10:09am.
wow, i'm really impressed that Pheonix can sustain this much derby!!
Holly Gohardly
Charm City Roller Girls
Submitted by azdr on April 20, 2008 - 10:38am.
Phoenix is currently America's 6th largest city. Unlike other cities, it is also one of America's most spread out cities geographically. When you look at the other three leagues that are skating here, they all have their niche. We have AZRD, which is our WFTDA league. We have Renegades who give us an interesting brand of "no rules" derby and we have the Arizona Derby Dames which gives us a happy medium between the two.
There are a couple of things that Phoenix is still lacking. We are lacking a men's team. Man derby is starting to take off. While the Arizona Cactus Pricks are starting to form, they are physically located in Tucson, which is over a 3 hour drive for many of us. Another thing, which was also pointed out to me by a prominent name in the Arizona derby community last night was that the Phoenix area lacks leagues that get along with each other. The history of Phoenix derby includes many league splits. AZRD is the state's original derby league and all of the leagues we have today have split off of them.
Those of us involved in bringing OSDA derby to Phoenix will address both of these issues. First of all, we plan to introduce male teams as well as co-ed teams. The creation of our co-ed teams and groundbreaking league policies assures that anyone who is physically able to play derby be given that opportunity. In addition, this league is being created from scratch and the current league leadership was not a part of any other league here in Phoenix. Therefore, the creation of this OSDA league can not be seen as a league split. OSDA policy does not require the leagues to be skater owned and managed. Our league will be owned and managed by currently non-skating fans who possess the drive, passion and business savvy to operate a league. I am proud to say, with my derby experience reporting on all of the Arizona leagues over the past year, I have been asked to be the first league Vice President and second league representative to the OSDA.
We are not coming into the market to create a better brand of derby for Arizona. We are coming into create a different brand of derby. It is our intention to maintain great relations with all of our neighbor leagues. I am personally looking forward to the challenge of being on the ground floor of this league.
Michelle A. Eyre
Michi-chan #73
Vice President, OSDA League Rep
Phoenix OSDA League (Name to be announced)
=m
