Chicago Outfit Roller Derby

Summary

Chicago Outfit Roller Derby (commonly referred to as The Outfit) was a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2007, the Chicago Outfit was a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[1]

Chicago Outfit Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaChicago, IL
CountryUnited States
Founded2007
Dissolved2022
TeamsSyndicate (A team)
Shade Brigade
Shakedown
Track type(s)Flat
VenueCicero Stadium
AffiliationsWFTDA
Org. typeNon-Profit
Websitewww.chicagooutfitrollerderby.com

In 2022 Chicago Outfit Roller Derby merged with the DuPage Derby Dames to form a new league called Chicago-Style Roller Derby.[2] Chicago-Style Roller Derby currently plays at Coachlite Skate Center in Roselle, Illinois.

History and league structure edit

The Outfit formed in 2007, after the collapse of another roller derby organization in Chicago, the Chi-Town Sirens.[3] While many of the former Sirens joined "the other" Chicago league, the Windy City Rollers, the rest launched the Outfit as a new organization that only played against other league's teams, rather than creating its own home league.[3]

In September 2009, the Chicago Outfit joined the WFTDA Apprentice Program,[4] and became full members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) on June 17, 2010.[5]

The Outfit consisted of three travel teams. The Syndicate was the Outfit's A-team, representing the league in bouts counting toward WFTDA rankings. The Outfit added the Shade Brigade, the B-level team, in January 2009. The Shade Brigade typically competed against lower-ranked WFTDA leagues or the B-teams of leagues that had higher rankings. Due to the large number of new skaters joining the Outfit at the end of 2010, the league created an additional, C-level team called the Shakedown for newer skaters.[6] The Shakedown began competing in August 2011. Chicago Outfit home games were held at Cicero Stadium.[7]

WFTDA competition edit

The Outfit first qualified for WFTDA Playoffs in 2011, entering the WFTDA North Central Regional Tournament as the ninth seed and finishing in fifth place, by defeating Arch Rival of St. Louis (to whom they lost their opening game on day 1 of the tournament), 153-113.[8] In 2012, the Outfit entered the North Central Playoff as the eighth seed but finished in tenth, culminating with a 180-166 loss to Cincinnati Rollergirls.[9] As the ninth seed at the 2013 Division 1 Playoff in Salem, the Outfit lost all three of their games to finish in tenth place.[10] In 2014, the Outfit competed at the Division 2 Playoff in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario as the fifth seed and finished in seventh place, with a 189-150 victory over Demolition City Roller Derby.[11] At the 2015 Division 2 Playoff in Detroit, the Outfit had their best result to date, entering as the sixth seed yet finishing in fourth place, after a loss to Naptown Roller Girls 190-107.[12] At the 2016 Division 2 Playoff in Wichita, the ninth-seeded Outfit defeated Carolina Rollergirls 249-173 to finish in ninth place.[13]

Rankings edit

Season Final ranking[14] Playoffs Championship
2010 9 NC[15] DNQ DNQ
2011 5 NC[16] 5 NC[8] DNQ
2012 10 NC[17] 10 NC[9] DNQ
2013 49 WFTDA[18] 10 D1[10] DNQ
2014 47 WFTDA[19] 7 D2[11] DNQ
2015 40 WFTDA[20] 4 D2[12] DNQ
2016 67 WFTDA[21] 9 D2[13] DNQ
2017 95 WFTDA[22] DNQ DNQ
2018 124 WFTDA[23] DNQ DNQ

In the community edit

The Outfit was a democratic league, run by the skaters and for the skaters.[24] The league has a long history of contributing charitably to several other non-profit organizations, including the Howard Brown Health Center, Ignite the Spirit, Family of Moxie Mayhem, Derby News Network, Help Tequila, Girls Rock! Chicago, the American Cancer Society, and Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN). The Outfit also coached the Chicago Riots, which is a junior roller derby league consisting of skaters ages 10 to 17.[25]

In 2013, members of The Outfit appeared on The Queen Latifah Show.[26] Kent Smith, member of the Ohio House of Representatives, volunteers as an announcer for the Outfit.[27]

References edit

  1. ^ "Chicago Outfit Roller Derby – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  2. ^ Chicago-Style Roller Derby (May 10, 2022). "Welcome to Chicago-Style Roller Derby!". Facebook. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Luger, Kara (14 April 2010). "Ready or Not, Here Comes the Chicago Outfit". Gapers Block. Gapers Block. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Apprentice Leagues". wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 16 November 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  5. ^ "WFTDA adds 11 new members - Latest News - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". Wftda.com. 2010-06-25. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  6. ^ "The Chicago Outfit welcomes: The Shakedown | The Chicago Outfit Roller Derby - Chicago's Derby Little Secret". - Chicago's Derby Little Secret. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Locations". Chicago Outfit Roller Derby. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. ^ a b "North Central 5th Place: 9NC Chicago Outfit Gets Revenge on 8NC Arch Rival, 153-113". Derby News Network. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  9. ^ a b Talionis, Lex (16 September 2012). "NC 9th Place: 7NC Cincinnati Comes Back on 8NC Chicago Outfit, 180-166". Derby News Network. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  10. ^ a b Wise, Beck (29 September 2013). "D1S 9th: (5) Charm City Ruffles (9) Chicago Outfit, 189-177". Derby News Network. Retrieved 13 March 2017.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ a b "Outfit Remodels Demolition, 189-150 | Derby News Network". Derby News Network. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  12. ^ a b Deadwards, Lisa (30 August 2015). "D2D 3rd Place: Naptown wears out Chicago Outfit, 190-107". Derby Central. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  13. ^ a b "D2W: #9 Chicago Outfit defeats #10 Carolina, 249-173". Derby Central. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Current Rankings Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine", WFTDA
  15. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2013 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  19. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  24. ^ "The Family". Chicago Outfit Roller Derby. 2010-06-17. Archived from the original on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  25. ^ Luger, Kara (15 July 2010). "The New Riot Girls: Chicago Riots Introduce Roller Derby for Area Teens - Gapers Block Tailgate | Chicago". gapersblock.com. Gapers Block. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  26. ^ "The Chicago Outfit, A Chicago Roller Derby Team, Appearing On The Queen Latifah Show". CBS Chicago. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Six Little Known Facts About Kent Smith - Kent Smith". Kent Smith.org. Kent Smith. Retrieved 13 March 2017.

External links edit

  • Chicago Outfit Roller Derby
  • Chicago-Style Roller Derby