About the Minnesota RollerGirls
Who We Are
The Minnesota RollerGirls are part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), a national governing body for female-only, skater-owned, flat-track roller derby leagues. The Minnesota RollerGirls league was founded by the Donnelly sisters in August 2004 and has grown from 6 original members to a current roster of 80 skaters, 8 referees and coaches, and countless volunteers. All participants are unpaid amateurs and the league provides insurance coverage for practices and bouts.
Where We Play
The Minnesota RollerGirls are the first league in the country to have a professional space for practices and bouts. The Roy Wilkins Auditorium in downtown Saint Paul is where we call home and we couldn't be happier!
Is This Like Old-School Derby?
Modern roller derby differs in many ways from the roller derby that used to air on television. Read more on our history of roller derby page.
So, What Kind of League Are You, Then?
Good question! Well, we’re all unpaid, amateur skaters who not only practice and bout, but do all the work to keep the league running. We also buy our own gear and uniforms. All of our volunteers (refs, announcers, and production staff) are also unpaid and they help us out for the love of the sport and our league. Like many of the all-female, skater-owned leagues around the country, we donate a portion of our bout proceeds to local charities, and spend time volunteering at events and fundraisers.
In addition to attending at least half of our thrice-weekly two-hour practices (in order to remain eligible for bouting), all members in the league are responsible for helping on one of the many committees that keeps the league running. Without the work of these fine ladies, the Minnesota RollerGirls wouldn’t be the amazing league that it is. In return, the league pays for our practice space and the insurance that covers our injuries at practices and bouts. There are many other expenses that the league pays, and this is why we love our fabulous sponsors!
As far as our demographics, we’re all 21+ but there’s no upper age limit, and we have several skaters in their 40s. Quite a few members have children. Professionally, we range from usability consultants and web developers to hairdressers and fashion designers to students and medical researchers. In other words, we’re a cross-section of the modern, successful, strong female population.
We're a Charitable Bunch
We like to spread the love and hold events for different causes. The Minnesota RollerGirls are dedicated to our local communities and charities and we invest our time, effort, and a portion of our event proceeds to local, and sometimes national, charities. See our Supported Charities page for all the information about charities we've donated money and/or time to.
Are the Minnesota Rollergirls Kid-Friendly?
Even though these girls are rough and tumble on the track, the event is kid friendly. If we were a movie, we’d be PG-13. We've had all ages at our bouts, from 3 years old up to 90+.
Consider the Following When Deciding Whether to Bring Your Kids
We project a positive, strong, athletic image because that’s the kind of women we are! This could be a great influence for your young girls, and boys too. We love to see kids at our bouts and we even have a portion of the evening where a few audience kids are asked to participate in a game on the track.
This is a sport where all body types are an asset and it’s not just for thin or burly women. So it’s a good way to show kids that everyone can be involved in sports and be physically active, as long as you find the right sport to participate in!
This is a sporting event and people get pretty riled up, including us. There’s a chance there might be strong language spoken in the heat of the moment. But unless you happen to be right near the incident, you won’t be able to hear it. Fighting is occasionally a part of this sport, but it’s generally less violent than what you’d see at a hockey game.
We have a variety of bands who play at our bouts and there’s always a chance there might be strong language in their lyrics. Again, probably not something the kids will be able to distinguish. It all comes down to your decision, but we hope that information helps you in deciding. And we hope to see your family at one of our bouts!
