Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
A fledgling women’s roller derby team in Austin is having trouble finding an audience, sponsors — or even a rink to play on.
Why it matters: Violet Crown Roller Derby’s challenges mirror those of a number of women’s sports teams in Austin — and even nationally.
Quick take: Roller derby is an elbow-deep, fast-paced sport in which two skating teams make a mad dash around a rink.
After practicing in Austin-area parks during the height of the pandemic, Violet Crown won the bronze medal at the USA Roller Sports national championships held in Waco over the summer.
Yes, but: Team founder Jazzelynn Daigle says VCRD may not even have a track to play on next season.
Between the lines: She says women’s sports teams have trouble generating the revenue needed to rent field, court or track space.
What they say: Daigle blames the obstacles faced by women’s teams on misogyny and bad timing.
Zoom out: Average attendance at University of Texas men’s basketball home games during the 2021-22 season was 12,398.
What’s next: Violet Crown Roller Derby is looking anywhere within 75 miles of Austin for a track that can accommodate its practices and matches.
The bottom line: “I’m not comfortable sending another team to travel to Austin because we can’t have a 2023 season.”
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