BAD is a volunteer-run organization, consisting of four home teams and both competitive and recreational skating programs. We attended the season opener at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium this past Saturday, the SF Rolling Dead vs the Oakland Outlaws, and it was entertaining and interesting learning about the sport, as this was our first time watching. The first whistle took place two hours after the doors opened. We arrived a bit early, so we checked out the merchandise vendors in the lobby, and got a couple drinks from the bar, the Crimson Cowboy (Oakland Outlaws themed cocktail) and Vodka Grim-let (SF Rolling Dead themed cocktail). They were both delish, as we rooted for the Bunnies during the juniors game, before start time for the main event. Pickles N Smoke also sold bbq dishes on site, but there was a long line for this, especially at intermission. The game lasted no more than one and a half hours, including the break. And watching the players on the floor do their thing made me wanna go skating too (without the full contact). Never knew how much I'd enjoy the roller derby :) read more

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This is a community based organization with its heart in the right place. It's a safe place for all who want to express themselves as well as spectate a fast and furious sport (where safety is always important). read more

Counting me 46 5 Star Reviews. Sara from across the hall walked into my office a moment ago, beaming. Seems she practiced with the Derby Girls over the weekend. She's perfectly proportioned to be a star jammer, lithe, physically cunning. I was certain I'd already thrown my five stars into the rink, but when I checked after Sara's smile it was clear I had not. My apologies. First, please mark your calendars. Saturday, February 25 at the Craneway Pavilion. Oakland Outlaws v. the Richmond Wrecking Belles. A battle royale. Replete with goodies and curiosities and a human spectacle suitable really for children of all ages. I grew up with roller derby, I think on Channel 9 coming if I recollect properly from the Garden late night played again on the weekend. And whilst this sport-as-art spectacle was engaging to my crookedly forming corpus callosum, now later I realize - it was just a portent of something really good to come. The Bay Area Derby Girls, in the same tradition of Hoodslam, offer the drama and commentary and visual delight that only a bunch of incredibly talented individuals could ever roll together. Join me on the 25th. Beware, though, the sore face you'll have the day after from the constant ear to ear grin you'll be sporting all day. read more

Bay Area Derby Girls made me long to be 30 years younger. Yes, 30. Who other than a 20-something would be nuts or badass enough to participate in such a physically punishing sport as this? Yep, youth is wasted on youth only these chicks aren't wasting it. They're out there bringing it, owning it, embracing it, killing it. I sort of loved the Bay Area Derby Girls. Would I have loved them as much had I not sat beside Sacramento Roller Girls "Mazel Tov Cocktail" and "Harshmallow" (I'm gonna harsh your mellow. Want s'more?)? Probably not, as Harsh was there to explain every intricacy of the sport, meaning that I didn't have to try to comprehend the information provided in the program. If you can't have Harsh by your side, here's a brief rundown: * Teams play both offense and defense simultaneously. * The person with the star-panty on their head is the only one who can score points. * Each team gets one star-panty player and that player changes frequently. * 1 point is scored for each opposing team member star-panty passes. There you have it, though there's some other stuff it helps to understand which I won't try to get into here. Games are 1 hour, broken down into two 30-minute halves which are further broken down into 2-minute segments. When it gets going good, the time flies (the match-up between the Oakland Outlaws and SF's ShEvil Dead was incredible). So, it's a legit sport with real rules and refs and an announcer but hey, this thing is also a party. Where else do they hand you a beer cozy when you walk in the door? Tallboy PBR's abound. Great music accompanies the proceedings. Real food and sweets are available for purchase. T-shirts too. And what? After the game, everyone is invited to jump into the ring and high five the winners and 2nd place teams as they skate by for a hand slap. I've dropped a lot of money at winning A's games and I've never once been invited on field to high-five the players. Just sayin'. Check it out, but get there early. Many seats are first-come first served and they do fill up. If you want to look like a regular, bring along a small white-board and felt-tip marker and you can spend the game conveying messages to whoever about whatever. It'll lend you credibility and make you appear to be an insider. It'll also bring immediacy to the proceedings as you try to watch closely enough to come up with relevant witty remarks. Or leave the white-board at home and limit yourself to eating, drinking, and cheering. Any way you slice it, it's worthy of your time. Just look at all the other reviews and you'll see that the Yelp community is pretty much in agreement on the Bay Area Roller Girls. Fun stuff. read more

This is about as punk rock as you can get. Skilled roller skaters in fishnets with creative nicknames like Chiquita Bonanza and Demanda Riot. Derby bouts are fun to watch live. Opening night was packed and the Richmond Wrecking Belles are champs for a reason. I am one of those who roots for the underdog and the Oakland Outlaws have some pretty mad skills. It's nothing like the movie Whip It except for the fact that they have a lot of fun skating around the track. I might even want to put on some skates and learn some stuff. They actually aren't there to intentionally hurt each other. I enjoyed every minute of it. Y'all should check it out sometime. It's well worth the $$$ and way more fun than you can imagine. read more

These women are hardcore intense and fierce! I loved watching them have fun out there. It was nice seeing competition while sharing smiles and laughs with each other. It was my first time watching Bay Area Derby Girls, I got to see Richmond vs. Berkeley (richmond won this one) and Oakland vs. SF. Very good matchups and I LOVED how the unique crowd was so into it! The atmosphere set the tone for a competitive and fun match. Took me a while to pick up all the rules, but after you know what's going on, you're pretty much glued. My first experience, but not my last! read more

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kickass ladies and booze, what's not to love? As a male you'll be amazed and turned on by the sexy ladies of derby. As a female, you'll be amazed and envious (and perhaps turned on) by the bad ass b*tches that are kicking ass and taking names on the track. The crowd is amazing and people who are working there are even better. Keep doing what you're doing, ladies. This is actually a really cool outing for all ages and they keep it all kosher so it truly is a family friendly event. Don't let the spikes, leather and tattoos scare ya. read more

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Roller Derby is a real sport. It's not contrived or staged. It's exciting. And it's super fun to watch. THAT SAID: The whole scene is cool. Off the track are all sorts of jewelry and fashion vendors, food/snack booths and trucks, and beer. B-e-e-e-e-e-e-r! It's sort of a carnival or street fair atmosphere. The athletes are working hard and having fun. The crowd is rowdy and supportive. BETTER STILL: Is the action. Once you understand how it's scored you can cheer for the jammers as they get assists and break through the pack or pull a Mr. Wilson. Har! These are fit, skilled women -- all sparkled up in exotic make-up and looking very hot in their shorts -- zooming around the track. What could be better? Well ... nevermind. IN BRIEF: It's a terrific way to spend an evening, support a local team and hang out with a bunch of cool people. Bring friends -- we go as a group and have a great time. Go Oakland Outlaws!!! read more

Bay Area Derby - Professional Sports Teams Near Me - Oakland, California

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I love the Derby Girls, they totally kick some major ass. These women are professional athletes that train hard and play hard. I was amazed at the speeds in which they race, the falls taken and the team work in scoring. Mix of attending people range from barbers to bankers, very hip without trying to be. BAD is really a lot of fun and draws a great crowd. Concessions has just about any liquid refreshment you could want and the action on the track can't be beat. I truly love BAD and will be back next month to do it again! read more

Dear citizen of the Bay Area, Thank you for your interest in roller derby, in general. Hopefully by now you have learned that there are two types of derby in the Bay; the WWE scripted version (which is very fun but kinda disappointing at first), and then there's the real stuff. If you're looking for something to shake up your normal routine, you have to check out the Bay Area Derby Girls. Not expensive to go, great deals on drinks and food, and un-scripted, 100% genuine athleticism on wheels. If you remember loving Rollergames in the 80's but just KNEW there was something wrong with having an alligator pit in the middle of the track, you will feel vidicated when you go to see these ladies get it on *for real*. You can tell they love what they do. You can see the passion and commitment in their eyes at the start of every jam. You are as likely to have a blast as you are to wake up tomorrow morning. The only real danger here is that you *may* get hooked and lose a Saturday night once a month. If you've never been to a B.A.D.G. bout , here are a few important tips to make your first time even better than mine was: 1. Arrive at the posted door time to get a great spot on the floor. 2. You may be tempted, but skip sitting in chairs. Too far away. 3. Bring a nice $10 pillow from Big Lots to sit on. You're welcome. 4. $3 for a 16 oz. PBR draft, or $5 for PBR & a whisky or tequila. Nice! 5. The BEST Cupcakes, brownies, and Fruity Pebble Krispy treats! 6. Sit by speakers so you can heat the announcers. Helps you learn. B.A.D. Girls are friendly, beautiful, passionate about their product, and even fun to party with after the bout at a local bar. If you're in your teens, 20s or 30s this is a MUST DO. Parents with kids will have a great time as well, but don't forget earplugs. read more

This is Fight Club for girls and its AMAZING!!! When my cousin called me on Saturday morning suggesting that we go to the roller derby in Oakland, my initial reaction was what the FAWK?!?!?!? But hey, I'm game. So we drive to the depths of the Oakland warehouse wasteland to get to Dry Ice, a rickety old wood framed roller rink where they've set up for tonight's bout between the Treasure Island Gold Diggers and the Alcatraz Escapees of the Bay Area Derby Girls League (B.A.D. for short). There are rabid fans everywhere and it's a motley collection of every type of rabble Oaktown has to offer: there are punks, bikers, meth heads, gothic ghosts, anarchists, anti-christers, rastas, A's fans, homeboys, androgynous horned-rim wearing hipsters, transvestites, cross-dressers, trans-genders, cross-genders, trans-dressers, cross-vestites and every other stripe imaginable, including the adoring parents and family members of the roller girls wearing t-shirts reading "B.A.D. MOM". Its chaos from the get-go as tatt'd promoters strain to organize the growing throngs of derby fans and freaks trying to get through the gauntlet at the tiny front entrance of the arena; what would become of us in case of a fire, we just didn't want to imagine, especially with the concession selling $3 cans of Bud and with all the Oaktown rabble hanging out the windows chaining cigarettes all night. It's 9:30 and the action is about to get started. We score a great vantage point upstairs looking down on the whole floor, which is covered with some kind of tiling and an oval track laid out in blue tape with a string of red lights delineating out-of-bounds. The left end of the arena is occupied by the Gold Diggers' fans, the right end by the Escapees' true blue. The place is absolutely HEAVING with human energy. Easily over a thousand people were crammed into the place for this event, apparently up from last month's bout pitting the Bay Area Derby Girls' All-stars against a team of hot sluts from Las Vegas. Netting hangs between the rafters and the upper railings. Its basically Thunder Dome, but Tina Turner has dreadlocks and stud piercings in both cheeks. The teams are introduced --- first the Gold Diggers and then the home team Escapees. These Diggers are big and daunting; dressed in jet black blouses and pleated mini-skirts, some of them wearing gold-sequined panties which they are glad to show off for you. Don't even wonder if they have tattoos; these brawny ladies are living artwork. Hair of every color under the neon rainbow. Each is introduced by the M.C. while shooting out onto the track. The secret weapons are sent out onto the floor: Hurricane Skatrina and Injure Rogers, the team's all-star jammers. This is a tour de force and a parade of intimidation as they swing by the booing Escapees' fans, bearing sequined panties and all. Then the Escapees are introduced. My cousin and I are surprised to see that they are more feminine, more demure, perhaps a bit more... understated. These girls aren't all tatt'd up, their hair washed, but they are still strong and determined. We develop crushes on the team's two star jammers, Iva Vendetta - the first to capture our hearts; we are in love with this girl and she skates like a champ - and Panda Monium, a fiery redhead, her eye sockets painted black in a nod to her namesake. Roller derby is intensely serious and very physical. The bout is broken into three 20 minute periods to give the girls much needed (and deserved) respite from the heated action on the track. Each team has ten girls, and a total of ten girls are skating at any one time, five for each team. Four are blockers and there is one jammer--the only team member who can score points. She scores a point every time she can break all the way through the opposing team's gauntlet of four blockers. There is a lot of pushing, prodding, blocking and a few major collisions accompanied by the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the crowd. The Gold Diggers get off to a staggering lead and by the second period, are ahead by 25 points. The Escapees mount a truly inspiring comeback in the third period sending the right side of the arena into a frenzy. But the Diggers combination of brawn and brute force proves too much for the home team to handle and the Escapees end up losing by a final score of 67-74. Injure Rogers lived up to her name, taking out several girls in the third period. Google this and you may be surprised to discover that promoters are really breathing renewal back into this once celebrated and very unorthodox sport. A whole new roller derby sub-culture is sweeping like wildfire across the United States. It started out in LA, and now all the major cities have leagues. If you have yet to see - or even hear about - roller derby, I strongly suggest that you think about going to their website and reserve tickets today. THIS RULES! http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com read more

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For reasons that remain unknown to me, Roller Derby Attendance = More hipsters than a Death Cab Concert And an astonishing amount of very attractive boys with glasses. What? Do you all follow these hardcore gals around hoping to catch a glimpse of them getting it on at some point? $3.00 Pabst out of tap coolers! Seats ON THE RINK, so close you could be hit by a wayward skate or elbow. Saw the Richmond Wrecking Belles against the SF She-vil Dead. The Wrecking Belles cleaned up. Don't mess with the Richmond Team. I couldn't believe how packed this place was. Go easy on the beer ladies, it's about a two hour wait on the restrooms. I'm still in awe over the amount of hipsters at this place. It's like the Mission empties out everytime a roller girl dons a short skirt and a helmet. read more

No theatrics. All women. 100% sport, strategy and athleticism. The most magnificent sport, in my opinion. The Bay Area Derby Girls (BADG) are the real deal. Nationally ranked travel team (amongst the top ten in the Western Region - #6 and in great company). http://wftda.com/rankings/2009 The BADGs are the baddest women around! You have to go to a bout and see what the big deal is about because, ladies and gentlemen, they are a big deal. These women practice, practice, PRACTICE and by watching a bout is evidence of that skill and deftness on the track. On top of the bout itself, there are some insanely entertaining half time shows, good eats and talented vendors! You will not be disappointed AT ALL. As a matter of fact, you can learn all about the league by asking the bout workers - the skaters themselves!! It's a nonprofit organization that is skater run. If you can't make it to a bout (because of something serious like death or illness - seriously, those are legit excuses, otherwise, you just need to GO) but you wanna party like a BADG, they are always having fund-raising events and you can usually find the lovely ladies on eight wheels rollin' around at a San Francisco or an East Bay fair or festival... It's true what they say...BADGs roll deep, most definitely! You will NOT be disappointed... read more

I read some of the other reviews first. I totally get the complaints about the seating. It can be crammed and you gotta have a plan of action if you want your group together but to me that's all a part of the fun. Its rough and and we're all thrown together, which is just... derby. If it were orderly and comfy it would be something else... something with an owner! There's order to the chaos, though, that's for sure. I agree - bringing a blanket really helps. When I have extra room on my blanket I extend it to my neighbor. It's a great way to make friends! Also being a space hog is not ok. One way or another, beer's just gonna fly everywhere anyways. Also, I think I'm just generally hipster blind. Next time I'm gonna have to take a closer look. I hardly think it matters what 'scene' people think they are or look like they are a part of, the general attitude and energy is positive - isn't the number one complaint of hipsters their snobbery? There are very few snobs here, I've found. People who know the game happily share their insights with newbies that are curious (and there are plenty of both at these bouts), and people don't boo for the opposing team so much as cheer harder for their own. I'm pretty sure one of the basic requirements for joining the rec team/league is 'don't be a douche'. I've always found the world of roller derby very welcoming, not to say there aren't layers of 'in' and 'more in'. Still for a large group of girls (or anyone at all), there's a remarkable amount of inclusivity. Remember when you go to these bouts: they don't get paid, the injuries are real and often taken care of out of pocket, there is no profiting within the league, and all your money spent helps that one evening break even - even the tips at the bar. No one gets paid except the guy who owns the warehouse/venue (and probably the taco truck and other merchants, but they make that money themselves). Its kinda awesome like that. These women are amazing athletes, NOTHING IS FAKED - highly recommended. You don't have to be a die-hard fan to enjoy this. Don't know the game? No worries. The playbill thingy you get at the door has the basics mapped out on the back page and the bout begins with a little instructional show. BTW - PBR and a damn good shot (I usually get Maker's Mark) for only $5 - beat that! read more

Totally 100% amazingly BADASS. The girls totally rock, and are as tough as nails. I wish I wasn't such a wuss and could join a derby girl team....maybe someday. My friends and I were surprised at how crowded and sold out the event was. We ended up having to sit on the floor in the "suicide area". Next time we should get there at 5, even though doors open at 6 and get a bleacher spot. They also have cheap PBR, and a shot and a PBR for $7, but we didn't get that this time around. Love love love it! read more

Uh, it really doesn't get better than this. If you have never seen roller derby, you're missing out on one of the coolest things in life. And if you don't like roller derby after you've seen it, you should take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself what the hell is wrong with you. The BAD Girls are exceptional athletes so the sport itself will keep you cheering. Grab a program and there is a very detailed page on how the sport is played. Plus, before the whistle blows for the first jam, they show you a demonstration so pay attention! Once you figure it out, you'll appreciate what you're watching all the more. When the girls start pulling strategies, and you realize it, that's when it gets really good. Also, the booze is much cheaper here than other events I've been to. $3 beers, are you kidding?? That's pretty unbeatable at a sports/entertainment event. $5 Makers Mark shots are also a Godsend. I also enjoyed the tamale booth and noticed there was a BBQ as well. The crowd is also quite wild and interesting to observe. A lot of friendly, funky people. Highly suggest you get there as early as you can (doors open at 6) so you can grab a spot up front. Some of the sightlines are not as good and you don't want to be stuck staring at the back of some hipster's head. Oh, and parking wasn't bad at all. We got there late and found street parking inadvertently. Was happy about that but would have paid the $8 (I think?) parking fee anyway. Bathroom situation is not ideal buuuut here's a secret, you can go to the bathroom in the next building and save yourself a 10 minute wait. Gather up some friends, buy your tickets online (cuz they sold out the bout I went to and I couldn't get extra tickets for my tardy-ass friends), get there early, drink like a fish and cheer for one of the greatest gifts in life: roller derby and BADG. read more

These girls are awesome! Went to my first bout last week at Fort Mason. Oakland Outlaws vs Richmond Belles. I was rooting for Oakland (the city that IS!), who were undefeated, but the Belles raced on by (over and over again) to defeat them! It was an intense match. I was on the edge of my seat, and on my tippietoes (my comprehension of the rules/regulations was marred by the six foot tall woman with a six inch afro right in front of me) Fantastic people watching (the dames and the crowd), with great music and tasty concessions. I have become a total convert...even the US Open seemed a bit lusterless the next day. Can't wait for the next bout! read more

Dear B.A.D.Girls, You inspire me to become a better roller derby player. And watching Demanda Riot gives me a derby boner every time. Love, Amanda aka Man Ram of Sacred City Derby Girls read more

I hesitate to sing these praises too loud, because this event was so packed to the rafters that when the word gets around I won't be able to get to see them again. A dry ice rink (in Oakland) full to the gills of tatooed crazy punky grungy hip and not hip, shouting and screaming and stomping and pounding the glass for the girls in short skirts as they skate around jostling and bumping. The SF Shevil Dead vs. The Oakland Outlaws. You don't have to be an expert to keep score - they have people who do that and post it on the scoreboard for you! Just read the program they give out on the door and keep your eyes on the girls with the stars on their helmets, and you won't go far wrong. After that, it's just beer and burlesque - chicks in tight shirts, fishnets, short short skirts, and skimpy underpants falling over and beating on each other... what's not to like? There's also guys in cheerleader outfits leading on the shouts for the SF Shevil Dead. So, thump your fist, pound on the wall - it's very theraputic: "I say GO! You say DEAD! GO! DEAD! GO! DEAD!". See - don't you feel better now? read more

This is a cheap, fun, wholesome event. The programs have the rules on the back, so you can read it over when you get there and know what you're watching. It's important and thrilling to see women rockin' it on the track--it's a great place to bring kids or even grandparents! The best venue is the Craneway Pavillion--beautiful and airy. There's food, beer, rescue dogs (Rocket Dog Rescue usually has some sweet hounds there to tempt those dog lovers who still have some room on the bed,) sometimes jewelry and random groovy stuff. Get there early to get a good seat. read more

i had my first roller derby experience at the league championship last night. quite an event! after several jams, i finally understood most of the rules and what the ladies were trying to do out there, and by the end of the game, i was cheering, doing the wave, and bummed that my team lost. a very fun way to spend a saturday night. oh, and i love the cheap booze. at what other professional sports event (or bar even) can you get a good beer for $3 or a beer and a shot of maker's for $5? the BAD girls have a new fan! read more

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went to a-- match? game? throwdown? not sure what to call it-- last weekend at the Craneway. Super fun, especially with a big group! the pluses: - cheap tix, esp. if you get them online & hunt down a discount code (Google it, people!) - fun(ky) crowd, with lots people watching. serious people watching - parking aplenty, only $5 - although I did not partake, lots of food (Donna's Tamales & Senor Sisg & Milk Money were there) & bevs (boozey & non) - cute merch (I am a sucker for a good t-shirt) the minuses: - cash only at the venue, even for tix - limited seating. not many chairs & no bleachers, so there is a lot of standing along the walls & sitting on the ground. the security is MILITANT about staying within the tape lines, so don't even TRY to block the wlkway - because of the aforementioned limited seating, you really need to get there early. bring some of those low camping chairs & a blanket to stake out space if you have a large group read more

Hot Roller Girls next to my house? Come on, is this for real? I really miss the bizarre punk culture that is this wild rampage of prowrestling esque real fakeness that is totally real. Is this real? Wow. read more

Want to know what three tickets, close to $100 gets you? A hassle. We were so stoked, coming from Arizona on a short vacation to SF. Showed up, presented our electronic tickets and the hassle began. Apparently, the door guy let some people through without issuing wristbands, but that sent $8.50/hr. Security through the roof. Mind you, we had tickets... Just not that coveted "red nylon magical unicorn wristband" A complete shakedown until we got our uber... Just glad it arrived on time. Not taking anything away from the athleticism of the ladies, but this was such a very average sporting event. You better have nothing to do to enjoy this stuff... read more

Went to the double-header at the Craneway Pavillion, and am going to this weekends bout there as well. Very well run event, plenty of space though it gets close to capacity on the bleachers the vendor area is spacious and lines there aren't a problem. Really looking forward to this again.. it's a fantastic and inspiring sport, and.. BEER and SHOTS booth! and licorice by the foot! and TAMALES! and treats made from all your favorite childhood sugar-bomb cereals! oh geez, and jewelry and handcrafts and and and.. it was like a faire around the main event. Good slightly dirty fun for young-at-heart adults. Might not be great for volume sensitive or nervous kids, be sure you want them around adults with beer, etc, disclaimers etc. Some kids LOVE fun adults, so your mileage may vary. DEFINITELY going to bring my nieces in on this action! read more

Big fans! We went to the 3/31/12 show at Fort Mason. Great night, good show! Recommend you bring a warm jacket, umbrella, and perhaps something hot to drink for the bouts at Fort Mason. The doors open at 6:00pm - however they only had one security guard checking ID and we stood outside in the rain for close to an hour waiting to get in (and yes, we did buy our tickets in advance, but it didn't matter we still had to wait in line). There must have been at least 300+ people in line with us. I figure the Derby Girls lost at least $3,000 in liquor sales due to the hour long wait outside. 300 people waiting outside not spending their money for an hour = lost sales. Was it worth the hour long wait in the cold rain? Most definitely! read more

Wow - fun experience (thank you Yelp for the tix!) and I admire those ladies and their physical daring! There WILL be falls, but they just get right back up again (I brought an ER doc as my +1, just in case). Next time I go to roller derby I will make time to look up the rules beforehand so as to follow the proceedings just a bit better. read more

Sometimes, I think moving to Detroit was a bad idea. Not because I don't love the fuck out of the Midwest, or because I think the stinky free love sluts in San Francisco are all that and a bag of chips, but because I don't get to skate with these incredible women four times a week anymore. The Bay Area Derby Girls are as serious about their athleticism as they are about their business. After skating with these women for two seasons, I can say with veracity that they are indeed the real deal, on and off the track. They take their business seriously. Their national team is ranked as #3 in the Western Region, which is the most competitive in the country. Their local teams are just as kick ass - San Francisco whomped a local tournament earlier this year, taking down teams from all over California, Richmond's impeccable 0-loss season record, Berkeley's roster chockfull of those national team skaters and Oakland, well, Oakland holds a special place in my heart as an alumni and a fan, and they're seriously the most fun team to root for. From my first bout as a spectator at Fort Mason, to the planned tournament in August, each game has taken BAD to the next level. The Craneway is beautiful and has crystal clear acoustics [hopefully something the Fort Mason peeps took care of in their reno!]. I love that they rotate places too, allowing everyone to see the derby in their own backyards. Support your local derby. BAD has a Rec League, four local home teams, a national level team, and rumor has it, more youth-related programming in the works. Skater owned and skater operated, these girls will show you a good time. read more

Going against the 5 star grain, I'll have to say, it was a lot of fun and I think it's great women are out there knocking each other around on skates, but I've only been once and I did get a little bored watching it. I think I'm just the type of person who would rather play a sport than watch it or maybe I was sitting to far from the action. It felt like most people in the crowd at the Fort Mason Center on April 5th were there to root for individuals they are related to or in love with or are friends with on either the Oakland or Richmond teams. I wasn't so maybe that's why I wasn't as into at some of them were. To be honest, it felt like a party and that was the best part. They were serving alcohol, there was an amazing half-time show with girls that could do crazy double dutch tricks I'd never seen before and there were Girl Scout cookies. It was a lot of fun, but I'm not about to go to a whole bunch more matches. read more

What TIME is it??? Time for championships. Muhahaaa. Where? FORT MASON!!! October 24th. http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com/events/ Plenty of seating, dramatic lighting, and a guaranteed nail biter bout between the Wrecking Belles and the Outlaws. read more

Went to my first bout this weekend...A double header. Great fun, and really well-run event. read more

B.A.D. is awesome, and if I weren't such a darn wuss, I would be trying out for it myself. It really is an incredible show, day-dream inducing -- no other sport really gets me interested in the athletes, until Derby Girls! Maybe I could handle being a ref.... The Oakland Dry Ice Arena can feel somewhat crowded, and you might end up standing the whole time, but it's definitely worth it. Bring some extra cash to buy beer and t-shirts to support the ladies :-) Last season Racey Lane would get me riled up quite easily with her cocky hip shake before a round. Racey Lane (also known as Spacey Lame) is so awesome you have to love or hate her. I chose to hate her because I'm so extremely jealous of her awesomeness. I'm really excited to see a skater this season potentially humble her, Kit Turbo. Looking forward to seeing them matched up in Oakland versus Richmond on June 14th! Go Oakland! Oh, and if for some bizarre reason you end up not really enjoying the derby, at the very least there's some great people watching to keep you interested! I recommend arriving an hour early when they open the doors to get a decent spot. read more

If you have never been to one of our bouts I highly suggest you come on down! We have a very welcoming D.I.Y. environment that is accommodating for everyone. As our fan base has continued to grow we have also grown, into larger venues and continue to pack the house with fans that demand 100% real, all female flat track Roller Derby. Bring the whole family! We have an extremely diverse crowd that is not limited by any means, we are all inclusive. Everyone should come to know the joys of Roller Derby done right! I hope to see you at our next bout! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Check out our website, www.bayareaderbygirls.com xoxo Chesty Gillespie read more

Iridescent women sparkling in whirling rolling combat. If your soul can't feel derby then there is nothing left to love. Let the devil breathe a sigh of relief & bask in his momentary peace. The gates are smashed open and the BAD girls are free... stinging kisses all over your bruised faces read more

Whaaaaat? I remember watching roller derby as a child - up late at night on Saturday night. Roller derby would sometimes come on after the channel 9 Howard Stern show and the old fashion American Gladiators. My brother and I would each choose a team and for the next 30 minutes, talk trash like we knew everything about the sport. Last night, I attended my first live roller derby at Fort Mason and it was freaking awesome. The rules were easy enough to understand and I was completely involved after no more than 10 minutes. It was a good thing for my brother that we were both sitting on the Richmond side - although I had no prior commitment to either group of girls, it was easy to get behind my team. Oakland was apparently undefeated... until last night, that is. Let's go Richmond! I could easily imagine that my future wife might very well be a B.A.D. girl... I love you, La Femme Nikilla!! Definitely check this out if you have the opportunity. read more

When Alan and I were kids we watched Roller Derby on TV. I was in the Bay Area and he was in Iowa, but we both watched Charlie O'Connell and Joanie Weston. So when I read Markus N's review of Bay Area Derby Girls earlier this month, I sent it to Alan and we decided to go see the Richmond Wrecking Belles vs. the Oakland Outlaws at the Craneway Pavilion tonight. He bought tickets. Doors opened at 6:00 and when we arrived a little before 6:00 there was already a line, which we joined. He'd made 6:00 dinner reservations at the BoilerHouse next door. The seating in the Craneway is varied, from floor seating (suicide seats, the announcer called them) at the edge of the track, to folding chairs, to couches, which were raffled off, to a couple of sets of bleachers. We staked out a couple of seats in the front row of chairs, left our coats and went next door for dinner. When we returned our seats were waiting for us. We had 45 minutes to an hour to wait, which made for some fine people watching. The floor seating filled up w/ people, couples, families, groups of women, groups of guys. First the Richmond team warmed up, then the Oakland one did. There were fans of both teams there and the crowd was good natured. There was food available inside as well as the Señor Sisig truck outside. There were people selling jewelry and other goods. We were such newbies we had no idea the Richmond team was undefeated in I don't know how many contests. Once the match started it went very fast and by the half the score was Richmond 111 to Oakland's 25. I could hear Oakland fans behind us saying ruefully that they'd known they were going to be beaten, but there was no anger and no ugliness, at least as far as I heard. The skill and dexterity of the skaters were amazing and the match was fun to watch. By the end of the 30 minute half we were ready to go, though. As we were leaving I noticed a troop of Girl Scouts selling cookies. We bought a box of Thin Mints for political reasons and will take them to a party we're going to tomorrow. It was a great idea for them to be there and cookies were flying off the table. We had a fine time. It's not the kind of thing we normally do, but we felt right at home amidst the typical Bay Area diversity represented in the audience. read more

This is more just to provide info to curious potential fans than a review: the 2011 season has started, and the first bout of the season is tonight, Saturday Feb. 26th. the BAD girls will be using two venues this season, the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond and Fort Mason in SF. Tonight's bout is in Richmond. A cab ride from BART is approx 5 bucks, and there is plenty of parking. Bring cash to buy tickets and pay parking (unless you can find it for free) but there is an atm machine inside for other purchases. The derby girls will be selling BADG merchandise, as well as Pyramid beer and PBR and some liquor and wine. There are a few food vendors so if you skipped dinner, not to worry. The cupcakes are BOMB. Doors are at 6, and the bout starts at 8, so get there early if you want good seating. Coffee is not served! KIDS ARE WELCOMED!!!!! BADG loves kids and the bouts are all family-friendly events. Bring a sweatshirt, as it'll be cold tonight, and even with lots of bodies, it can get chilly in a big pavilion. Last but not least, party with the BAD girls after the bout at the Mallard bar in Albany (but take your time getting there- it takes them time to break down the event before partying!) YEAH BAD GIRLS! read more

Bad ass! I love to go to the games with my lesbian crew. They are crowded, and you'll end up slamming into the hordes of people around the rink, with 2 beers in each hand, trying to fly over the crowd to get to the bathrooms, all the while smearing your face on the plastic to watch the girls slamming the crap out of each other on the roller derby track. This is cheap, live Pure-A entertainment. The halftime show is kinda disco-esque, drag queen, rhetorical, hypothetical, shit I don't know. It's worth it. read more

Hell, yeah! Girls in short skirts skating fast and elbowing the crap outta each other, boy cheerleaders in short skirts, my tattooed brethren, lotsa screaming from the crowd, a few beers.... you can't dream up a much better night out than this, my friends. read more

OK, based on reviews here, this sounded like a fun time for hubby and me on a Saturday night. Something different, ya know? God, I SO wanted to love this...As it turned out, it was an interesting experience, better on recalling it than actually being in the moment. It was unorganized-Our tickets said the event started at 6 p.m.. In order to have a leisurely day in the city before the show started, we arrived at Fort Mason about 1 p.m,,browsed the book store, had lunch, admired the views. (It was freeeezing, by the way). Were very ready to sit down and enjoy some roller derby, so about 5:30 joined the short line in front of the appropriate warehouse.. Then we spotted the schedule of events posted in the main hallways of Fort Mason, which said that the doors opened at 6, the actual bout to start at 8 pm. While waiting, we were treated to conflicting stories about where we were supposed to stand, depending our ticket status. We ended up moving lines three different times, based on different stories told to us by staff. Even though we were among the first 20 or so in line, by the time they let us in, we were 100 or so from the front, due to all the line switching. Oh, and the sign on the door (hastily hand lettered, posted with duct tape at about 6 pm) said the door open time was 6:30. Great. So we waited in line for about an hour in the freezing wind. Finally in the building, we were already cranky. We found a handful of vendors ...jewelry, tee shirts,etc.,Also, food booths, the only one worth mentioning was the yummy sorbets. The Sound-This is basically an old military warehouse, not built for any kind of acoustics. There is no built -in sound system, so sound was all amplified with free standing speakers. There was loud music blaring when we walked in, and once the announcer started talking, you couldn't understand a word he said. His voice did, however add significantly to the decibel level, and it was headache inducing. I noticed people who had clearly been there before wearing ear plugs. Site lines- I wondered why people were actually sitting on the floor right next to the oval where the skaters would be playing. I know this is a physical sport, and those floor level ring side seats seemed dangerous. Once things filled up, I understood. This is flat track roller derby, meaning there are VERY few seats that can see the whole track. From our seats, we could see about a third.of the track. Many people brought blankets to sit right up next to the ring. then there was about 10 rows of folding chairs, and behind that, a few meager bleachers. There at least 1/2 times more seating than there were people there. The announcers and skate clad volunteers kept hawking raffle tix, Apparently the lucky raffle winners got one of a handful of seats on an elevated couch from which one could presumably see the whole track.Near as I can figure, they were raffling off the "good" seats. I don't know, maybe I'm just too old for this scene... Exclusionary culture- people dressed like zombies, apparently to get "stickers". This was not explained, either in the promotional material, nor onsite. Mustaches. Dozens (men and women) wore fake mustaches. I have no idea. It felt like the Rocky Horror Show meets a rave. Some things were pretty great, though. : Lex from Survivor was there . Apparently he's married to one of the Santa Cruz team members, He wore a shirt that boasted "My wife can kick your wife's ass". At some point he and three other dudes bared their chests to reveal the acryonym for their team's name spelled out in electrical tape. Okay, maybe that part wasn't so great. Wine was only $4 per glass, and was served by Barefoot Vineyards. (Oddly, they were also selling straight shots of hard liquor nearby) We parked inside the gates for $10 for several hours, and. as early as we were, got a great spot right near the venue. People-watching opportunities. Rollerderby is a hotbed for various counterculture types. In addition to the aforementioned mustaches, we saw hot pink mohawks, horizontal striped leggings on not so slim legs, acres of butt crack from folks in low rise pants sitting on the floor (again, maybe not so great), and my husband swears he saw a dude in a homemade unicorn costume. We aren't even sure who won, we slipped out about 30 minutes into the bout. We couldn't see the track, couldn't understand the announcer, and consequently had no idea what was going on. The experience was interesting enough, that now that we know what to expect, we might try it again. Or perhaps try the Bay City Bombers, who skate on a banked track in venues with bleacher seating, so everyone can see the action. read more