Ash Mateja, founder and owner of Chicago Knockouts, says inclusivity and accessibility are natural extensions of roller derby, but the main goal at monthly bouts in Homewood is pure entertainment.
Roller derby exhibitions of feigned aggression and over-the-top theatricality, including this scene from a Chicago Knockouts bout in January in Homewood, veils the sport's hugely supportive, welcoming atmosphere, participants say.
Mateja, who founded CKO in 2018, explains the sport has evolved over the decades, shifting from an early focus on endurance to the full contact, wrestling tinged team productions of the 1960s. The sport’s admittedly esoteric rules can make it difficult for fans to follow the action, so Mateja’s iteration plays to its theatrical spirit.
“I bought a bunch of gear from roller rinks to make it accessible to people regardless of income level,” she says, explaining that given the sport’s amateur status, most derby leagues are pay-to-play. “I wanted to shift to a system where the revenue is generated by ticket sales.” Mateja is determined to continue that growth, including promoting youth involvement. Free skating lessons last summer led to the development of a minor league for participants younger than 18. She now has more than 20 participants.
Fans of any age are welcome to strap on a pair of skates and join the fray. This was the draw for player-turned-fan-turned-player Renee Scott, 49. “It’s so fast-paced that it caters to the social media attention span that exists in 2023, which gives it a universal appeal. Each time they go around the track it’s like watching a TikTok,” he jokes. “Plus it’s an incredible display of athleticism by very talented women. Even in 2023 athletics are still very much male-driven, and even the WNBA struggles to continue because it’s not supported like its counterpart.
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