Economics of Roller Skating

Why I chose this topic.

I am a person that plays roller derby as well as park skates. My mother has been playing roller derby for over 10 years, and I have been involved in the community just as long. Over the years, I have seen the community grow and become more popular. The sport of roller derby has grown in popularity as well as park and jam skating. Despite the fact that the sport has boomed over the years, there is a distinct lack of roller derby shops in the Denver community. Many skaters are willing to drive to Colorado Springs or Loveland in order to get the skating gear that they need. I decided to do my project on roller skating because I am incredibly passionate about the topic and am very involved in the sport. In addition, I am part of a community opening up a skate shop. I want to know what effects purchases in the community.

Research Question

Despite the growing popularity and demand of the sport, why is there a lack of roller derby shops in Denver?

Growth in Demand

Local team, Wreckin Roller Rebels

Growing popularity

Over the past 10 years, roller skating as a sport has grown exponentially. Roller derby and park skating have become more known and loved.

From 2006 to 2014, the number of flat track derby teams has grown from 150 to 1500 leagues world wide (Humbolt Roller Derby). Currently, there are 5 organized roller derby teams in the Denver area alone, and other groups that train in order to make high level teams.

Within the team, Rocky Mountain Roller Girls, there are 9 other subteams that you can try out to make.

Roller Derby is a more 'alternative' sport that draws interest to many people, especially adults who have minimal interaction to more 'traditional' sports.

On top of the boom in derby, park skating has become increasingly more popular. Michelle Steilen, a.k.a Estrojen, founded the company Moxie Roller Skates in 2008 with hopes to bring roller skating back into popularity. She founded the Moxie Skate team, which, with the help of social media, brought roller skating to skate parks world wide.


Members of the Moxie Skate Team

The Wheel House Scouts, a local group of skaters who support skaters of all levels through their Facebook page and weekend events.

Roll of Social Media

Social media has played a distinct roll in the increase of skating popularity. Many skaters have Instagram pages to show off their talent. Many people use this platform to document their success and improvements. By using social media to boost their own popularity, skaters have boosted the popularity of the sport as whole.

Groups, such as Chicks in Bowls, use social media to promote skaters on an international level. A group that started in New Zealand, Chicks in Bowls now has over 280 chapters around the world that invite experienced and new skaters alike to join them and have fun at the park.

Lady Trample, founder of Chicks and Bowls and world famous roller derby player.

Lack of Supply

Lack of Shops in Denver

Despite the demand for skates and roller skate supply in Denver, there are no skate shops in the Denver area. Derbyville, the main shop in Denver, shut down several years ago. Two roller derby shops exist Colorado, and skaters will drive hours in order to get gear. Derby shops in Denver find little to so success.


Competition

Online Shopping

Due to the fact that online shopping has grown so popular, many shoppers are buying roller skate gear online, causing many shops to go bankrupt. Websites such as Amazon, Roller Skate Nation, and eBay, sell roller skate gear from the convenience of ones couch. The internet is putting many local roller derby shops out of business. Many skaters, especially beginners are primarily doing shopping online.

Conclusion

The internet is helping and hurting the economics of roller skating. Social media is causing a large boom in skating popularity, however has also made it so that many brick and mortar shops close down. The shops most successful are shops with online and brick and mortar presence. The economy of rollerskating is booming, but has very little to sustain the demand. In the future, there is expected to see more roller derby shops in Denver with hopes to stay open due to a rapid demand.






Roller Derby shop set to open in Denver

Rocky Mountain Roller Punks, a local junior team

Indy Jamma Jones, park roller skater