A League of Their Own

         In the Buffalo area, roller derby isn’t heard of much, unless you’re in the game. RiverWorks has provided the Women’s Fast Track Derby Association (WFTDA) with their very own track inside its complex. “There’s just something about hitting girls,” said Laura Gobin. She has been playing roller derby since 2011 and loves it.

The WFTDA league started in 2006 at the Rainbow Rink in Tonawanda. Back then they were known as the Queen City Roller Girls. Two years later Kari Lambright and her family joined the league. Since then Kari has been the committee chair in charge of events for the league.

“ RiverWorks built this track strictly for us,” Lambright said. She and the league plan to stay at RiverWorks for a long time. Each player has to have two volunteer hours in order to play in games, also if a practice is missed, you miss the next game. 

Kari was very appreciative that her league is being noticed. “I can’t stand the excitement, I read all the time online how Buffalo is coming and post it to Facebook for everyone to read,” she says. Buffalo has a unique history, and Kari is glad it is being used in Buffalo’s favor. “Buffalo deserves to have its own fingerprint,” she said.

The WFTDA league is the only league around that actually plays by the rules of roller derby. Currently there are 160 people in WFTDA. “There’s a league that plays in East Ferry in Buffalo. The Renegade Roller Derby League, no rules, no penalties,” Kari explained. When the game between the Devil Dollies and Ally Kats started at RiverWorks, it seemed as if there was a penalty every two minutes. 

Roller derby itself is very complex if you’re new to the game. With a big part of the game being girls banging into each other, it’s easy to see why there are so many penalties. There are two halves, with the main part of the game being a jam. A jam is a maximum of two minutes, with the object trying to get the jammer through the other team’s barricade of girls to score points. The average score between both teams is 200 points.

With construction still ongoing at RiverWorks, many people came out to attend this event. For the individuals involved in roller derby, they take it very seriously, but it is also a lot of fun. 

“ I absolutely love it. You hate your opponents during games, in the end you're best friends and you go out for drinks afterwards,” Laura said. She is originally from Southern California, recently moved to Buffalo, and plays for Devil Dollies. Before Laura made the leap she did some research of her own to check out Buffalo. “When I moved I knew Buffalo was up and coming,” Laura said. That was one and a half years ago, and the area has come a long way since. Laura wouldn’t have it any other way.

“ I’ve made instant friends,” she said. A big decision when Laura moved was being able to continue her roller derby career. “ It’s always fun to wear fishnets and booty shorts. Always a great time, it’s a cult following event, good fun, and a good mix of age,”she said. Nicknames are also a big part of the game. Laura’s is “buenas nalgas” or “good butt.” Kari’s nickname is “Momma Chops.” That is how Kari introduces herself to everyone, not by first name.

The Devil Dollies vs. The Ally Kats was quite the game. Everyone was very engaged, from the players, coaches, officials, and especially the fans. Most people aren’t associated with roller derby, so picture the Super Bowl, that is how this game was treated. At halftime they didn’t have a big show, but they did however throw out free loaves of bread. 

When RiverWorks is complete, Kari hopes her WFTDA league games become even more popular. The coordinator of events for RiverWorks, Sean Green, has stated they intend to have many outdoor events when construction is concluded, such as a roller or floor hockey league, many concerts outdoors, and not to mention the continuation of the derby games. Also they plan to have backyard games such as Kan Jam, Bean Bag Toss, Pickle Ball, and Beach Volleyball. Inside, the complex will house a restaurant, yet to be named, which will be a sports bar. 

With all of these attractions, Kari’s vision should come to fruition. Roller derby is just like any sport, competitive during games, and it creates a family in the end. The game deserves to be noticed more. It may be confusing and different in the beginning, but take the time to learn the game. Roller derby could be the next big thing coming to Buffalo.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/588026106139279360

Bills Stadium Generating Buffalo Buzz

         In the foreseeable future, a new Buffalo Bills stadium might be built in downtown Buffalo. The Bills are beloved by thousands. Fans around the world cheer for them and are passionate. If they want the franchise to have continued success, a new stadium is needed. 

Four preferred sites have been identified, three in the city, and one in Orchard Park. Others have received mention, but there are four main positions. East of First Niagara Center in the Cobblestone district, Exchange and Michigan Avenue, and southeast of South Park Avenue - Louisiana Street along the Buffalo River are the city sites. The Orchard Park location is simply next to the current stadium. Sean Green is the Director of Operations Sports Development at RiverWorks, and he believes a new stadium would be a great idea.

“I think it would be phenomenal, it’s another piece to the puzzle in terms of excitement and opportunities to bring people down here,” said Green. He expressed the thought of 80,000 people going downtown, everyone would benefit from it. RiverWorks is still being completed, but among themselves they have discussed the potential for a stadium downtown. They would plan their events around it, and stadium events would help structure RiverWorks, along with other city attractions.

As the new Bills owners, Terry and Kim Pegula have a large task at hand. They have expressed their desire to keep the Bills in Western New York, and have a commitment to winning. For the Pegulas, a new stadium could cost between $784.6-$911.9 million, pending which city location chosen, if any.

Green feels the general perception is fans want a stadium downtown with all the excitement. “The city is growing and it’s changing, sometimes change is good,” says Green. A new stadium downtown would make the city the place to go.
        “You hear the excitement of people staying here or coming back home here, sports is a huge part of people’s lives and activities and families, the tradition of going together if it’s a Bills game, Sabres game, Bandits game, or whatever else, families come together,” said Green. 

With Green’s role being to schedule events and attract people, bringing so much activity downtown, he doesn’t think it’s a bad idea. There are already major events occurring. Garth Brooks recently came to Buffalo. Six shows in four days, with two of those days holding two shows per day, Buffalo seems ready.

Parking is a big concern for some. Green sees it as a non-issue. RiverWorks held the Labatt Pond Hockey Tournament with 15,000 people in January. With only 500 parking spaces, Green recalled it wasn’t a problem. Obviously 80,000 is more than that, but he believes the minds behind the parking and traffic flow will be ready to tackle the issue.

The thought of having a home Bills and Sabres game in one day, in close proximity, appeals to Green. “Two wins! I picture a vibrant, energetic city, that’s going to have a passion for a Sunday,” says Green. 

Understandably, many Orchard Park residents and business owners would not want the Bills to leave the area. People who allow parking on their lawn during game days would lose out financially. “A guy who has parking at his house maybe counts on that $5,000 revenue, that may not seem like a lot when you’re building a billion dollar stadium, but to them maybe that was their family vacation money,” says Green.

Ben Stack, a manager at O’Neill’s, a bar located across from Ralph Wilson Stadium, wouldn’t want the Bills to relocate. Game days would be the biggest loss for O’Neill’s. Stack sees the “The Ralph” as a staple of the area.

“It’s an influx in a positive way for our sales, it’s like getting a bonus or a raise, we do well, then that’s kind of the cherry on top,” said Stack. He discussed Canadians who come down to Buffalo, spend the night, then go to O’Neill’s before the game, would be a loss.

“It brings together the community, loyal Bills fans in the area,” Stack says. He also thinks the fans of Orchard Park would suffer the most rather than the local businesses. The tailgaters outside the stadium nearly match the number of people attending the game.

The stadium has helped O’Neill’s build a name for itself. Food vendors or parking officials can move downtown, but the businesses can’t.

           Buffalo fans are diehard. Before the Pegulas purchased the team, there was an abundance of outcry due to the team possibly moving to Toronto.Whether a stadium stays put or moves elsewhere, seats will be filled by the loyal fans whose hearts beat for their Buffalo Bills.