2010/11/04 Women’s Roller Derby a Boon for Manitoba Business
November 05, 2010
For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Women’s Roller Derby a Boon for Manitoba Business
Thousands of tickets sold and roller derby events generating valuable tourism dollars
Winnipeg, MB. – The global explosion of women’s flat track roller derby is pumping significant tourism and service dollars into downtown Winnipeg and Brandon as well as spawning new retail and online businesses in the province.
With two large Winnipeg Convention Centre events under their belt and another planned for November 13, the Winnipeg Roller Derby League is quickly establishing itself as more than just a passing fad. “To date we have sold more than 4500 tickets to our first two events and we expect that by January, 2011 we’ll have sold more than 6300,” says Serenity Ising, director of operations for the league.
Ising, who skates under the moniker Retro Rx, is quick to point out that fan demand for roller derby action in Winnipeg continues to grow and has inspired the league to set a busy event calendar for 2011. “We’ve committed to an aggressive schedule for 2011 and we’ll be able to provide fans with more than 10 roller derby bouts.”
In addition to substantial ticket sales, Manitoba’s roller derby movement is pumping valuable dollars into downtown Winnipeg through increased restaurant and bar sales as well as hotel bookings. “With our past two bouts we booked more than 40 rooms for out of town skaters and fans,” said Ising. “Our roller derby visitors spent their spare time shopping and dining in downtown Winnipeg and we had very good feedback from vendors.”
Ising also added that the City of Brandon will be the next Manitoba location to benefit from roller derby’s economic windfall. “In late November we have more than 100 skaters from Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario and North Dakota meeting in Brandon for a weekend-long skills camp called the Prairie Punisher.”
Two new roller derby based businesses have also materialized in Winnipeg since the arrival of the sport in January, 2008. Green Wheels, an online based roller derby magazine was launched in June of this year and Peach Jam Skates, a roller derby equipment and clothing shop, was recently opened in the Johnston Terminal at the Forks Market.
For more information on the Winnipeg Roller Derby League’s November 13, Crushes & Carnage Bout or to schedule an interview, please contact:
media@winnipegrollerderby.com