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TODAY: Providence Roller Derby opens home season with Rhode Island Classics in Warwick
Ocean State icons battle on the track during Providence Roller Derby’s home opener of the 2026 season!
The Providence River Rats (Team Del’s) will take on the Ravens (Team Big Blue Bug) in a clash that guarantees big action, high energy, and plenty of Rhode Island pride.
Two fierce teams take to the track in a battle inspired by the Ocean State’s legendary culture, iconic landmarks, and unmistakable attitude. From coastal grit to vintage charm, this themed bout brings all the nostalgia with nonstop action, big energy, and derby chaos.
Cheer for your favorite skaters or come to learn more about the sport – expect fast jams, crushing blocks, and a “”celebration of Rhode Island like you’ve never seen before” says the Providence Roller Derby promotion.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Enjoy the game:
Saturday, June 6, 2026. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. First whistle: 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Thayer Arena, 975 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI 02889
Founded in 2004, Providence Roller Derby is a founding member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and the first flat track roller derby league in New England. PRD is committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for participating and engaging in the sport of flat track roller derby.
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A few of the details of Roller Derby:
For new spectators, roller derby is easier to follow once you know where to look. Each team sends skaters onto the track for short bursts of play called jams. The skater wearing the star on her helmet is the jammer — the only skater who scores. The blockers form the pack and try to stop the opposing jammer while helping their own jammer get through. A striped helmet cover marks the pivot, a blocker who can receive the star and become the jammer during play.
The action may look chaotic, but the strategy is constant: one jammer is trying to break through the pack, while blockers use positioning, timing and legal contact to open lanes or shut them down. Once the jammer makes an initial pass, she can score points by passing opposing blockers on later trips around the track.
Short history of roller derby
Roller derby began in the 1930s as a Depression-era skating spectacle. Promoter Leo Seltzer launched the Transcontinental Roller Derby in Chicago in 1935, combining the popularity of roller skating with the endurance-drama format of dance marathons and walkathons. Early versions were more like long-distance races, with teams circling a track to simulate a cross-country journey.
Over time, roller derby evolved into a more physical, team-based spectator sport, especially on banked tracks. By the mid-to-late 20th century, it became known for theatrical personalities, hard hits and TV-style spectacle. The modern revival came in the early 2000s, when skater-run leagues rebuilt the sport around flat-track roller derby — less staged, more athletic, and rooted in local, do-it-yourself community organizing. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association says it began in 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition, a group of flat-track leagues run by skaters, and later became the WFTDA.