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| - This has got to be one of the best kept secrets in town. If you haven't been to see the Derby Dames, you just don't know what you've been missing (yeah, obviously). We started going with some friends this season (2010), and it has been so much fun, we're considering buying season tickets for 2011 (starts in January). Roller Derby rocks!
Imagine two teams of women of all shapes and sizes, decked out in their costumes and makeup, roller skating around the banked track, throwing elbows, pushing and shoving, and sometimes even throwing down (fisticuffs, baby!), all while the music is blaring from the grandstand and the commentators call the action. For those with younger kids, relax - it's all in good fun and not nearly as bad as most of the stuff they'll see on television.
The best part of going to see the Dames (other than the track action) is the atmosphere. It's a very diverse crowd - all ages and all walks of life. Everybody goes to have a good time, and every time I have attended, everyone has been very respectful and good-natured (Unlike nearly every other sporting event I have attended).
There only a few drawbacks, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention them:
1) Parking is $10. If you sign up for the Arizona State Fair (ASF) email newsletter, you'll receive coupons from time to time (They'll also send coupons for discounts on admission, too); with that said, I've never paid less than $7 to park. (Can you say carpool?) You could always risk parking in the neighborhood west of 19th Avenue (many people do), but the price of parking gives you a little added security.
2) The concessions are pricey. I'm talking Chase Field and Cardinal Stadium pricey. $7 for a beer, $3 for a soda, $4 for a hot dog; you get the idea. However, it's very easy to get out and back into the Colosseum using your ticket stub, and the parking lot is very close to the main doors, so bringing along your own snacks and drinkables and making trips to your vehicle during one of the many intermissions is definitely do-able.
3) If you have an aversion to cigarette smoke (I do), you'll want to spend as little time as possible in the area outside the main doors. For some reason, the percentage of smokers in the Dames crowd seems to be a bit higher than the general population, and, while there is no smoking inside the Colosseum, it's pretty smokey just outside the entrances. Not a big deal (just move along), but information worth sharing.
But these are minor nuisances and hardly worth mentioning once you get inside and take in some Derby Dames. It's a venue I would highly recommend to anyone looking for something a little different, and many who go will be hooked from their first bout. Don't worry about not knowing the rules - they show an instructional video before each of the bouts. When the 2011 season starts, make sure you set aside a weekend to take in something truly unique and entertaining! Don't forget to check out the After Party and mingle with the athletes. C'mon, all the cool kids are doing it!
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