July 20, 2011
With this year’s playoff contenders set to be announced in a few weeks, excitement is already building for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s 2011 “Big 5” tournament cycle. Over a four-week period, the top 10 teams in each of the four WFTDA regions will compete in regional playoff tournaments for a chance to advance to the fifth annual WFTDA Championships.
This year, the playoff action will kick off in Baltimore, Maryland, Sept. 16-18 and continue each weekend through Oct. 7-9. Teams qualify for their region's playoffs by earning a top 10 spot in their respective regional rankings. WFTDA member leagues vote on regional ranking quarterly, based on teams’ records in sanctioned game play. Second quarter rankings are used to determine tournament eligibility.
The first, second, and third place teams from each of the playoffs earn the right to compete in the WFTDA Championships, to be held Nov. 11-13 in Broomfield, Colorado, where 12 teams will compete for the “Hydra” trophy and the title of 2011 WFTDA Champions.
By Saturday, July 23rd, tickets will be on sale for all of the Big 5 tournaments:
East Region Playoffs, “Nightmare on 95”: Sept. 16-18 at Clarence “Du” Burns Arena, 1301 S. Elwood Ave. in Baltimore, Maryland. Co-hosted by the Charm City Roller Girls and DC Rollergirls. Tickets are $75 for a three-day pass and $30 per day. http://www.nightmareon95.com
West Region Playoffs, “Bridgetown Brawl”: Sept. 23-25 at Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Winning St. in Portland, Oregon. Hosted by the Rose City Rollers. Tickets are $75 to $100 for three-day passes and $20 to $30 for one-day passes. http://www.bridgetownbrawl.com
South Central Region Playoffs, “Show Me Der-B-Q”: Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Hosted by the Kansas City Roller Warriors. Tickets are $50 for a three-day pass or $25 per day. http://www.showmederbq.com
North Central Region Playoffs, “Monumental Mayhem”: Oct. 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana. Hosted by the Naptown Rollergirls. Tickets are $100 for VIP three-day passes; additional ticketing options will be offered closer to tournament dates. http://www.monumentalmayhem.com
WFTDA Championships, “Continental Divide and Conquer”: Nov. 11-13 at the 1STBANK Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane in Broomfield, Colorado. Hosted by Denver Roller Dolls. Early bird tickets go on sale July 23-29. http://www.continentaldivideandconquer.com
Real. Strong. Athletic. Revolutionary.