Memphis Parks officials said moving Memphis Roller Derby [MRD] to a community center could lead to increased exposure for the league, and that the decision could also encourage more residents to skate.
As the city considers leasing the Pipkin Building — the current home of MRD — to Bluff City Pickleball, the Memphis City Council’s Parks and Environment Committee was provided an update on possible alternatives for MRD. The Council previously voted to hold off voting on lease terms as the Parks team worked to solidify other venues for MRD.
Justice Bolden, director of Memphis Parks, said the league will be able to continue its activities at the Davis Community Center, located at 3361 Spottswood Avenue. The league’s annual rental rate for practices would be $31,500 without a subsidy and $9,000 at a subsidized rate.
Memphis Park’s weekday nonprofit rental rate at the Pipkin building for the projected 210 hours the league practices was reported as $59,062.50 unsubsidized, and $9,000 subsidized.
Bolden said a move to the Davis Community Center would mark increased community activation, and that more people would be introduced to the sport due to the communal structure of the space.
“Memphis is a skating community,” Bolden said. “We’ve [skated] at Crystal Palace, Raleigh Skating Rink, and historically we’re skating on wood floors.”
Bolden said the league’s bouts also present the opportunity for community members to learn more about derby culture.
“We’re looking to the fact that now, on a Saturday, whether it’s the afternoon or the evening, you can visit a Memphis Parks community center and you can see roller derby for the first time,” Bolden said. “We’re excited about that opportunity.”
Gaston Community Center and Memphis Sports and Events Center (MSEC) are also options provided by Memphis Parks for MRD bouts. The unsubsidized rate for bouts at the community centers would be $7,560.
Bouts at MSEC would be $20,780 unsubsidized, and $10,780 subsidized. MRD is currently paying $12,906 at the Pipkin Building for four bouts at an unsubsidized rate. Bolden said moving to a community center would “place funds back in the hands of MRD.”
“We understand that change is not always comfortable,” Bolden said. “What we wanted to do was make sure we were equitable in what we were providing.”
Memphis Parks has asked MRD to host scrimmages to simulate what a bout day would look like at the proposed community centers. Members of the MRD Board of Directors said they are excited to continue working with the Parks department.
“Currently contracts have not been signed,” the board said in a statement. “We are still working through the logistics of having bouts at MSEC as well as at a community center.”
The council is set to vote on the lease terms for Bluff City Pickleball during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
While council member and committee chair Jeff Warren said the item was sent to the body with a favorable recommendation, community advocates are “disappointed” by the decision to do so.
Fairgrounds For All, has voiced their opposition to the leasing of the Pipkin Building for a “for-profit business.” MRD is only one of several organizations that would be impacted if Bluff City Pickleball is granted the lease.
The group released the following statement after Tuesday’s committee meeting.
“Fairgrounds For All is disappointed with the committee’s decision to recommend giving a discounted lease of a public building to a for-profit business.
“We are happy for the subset of our members who were able to find a new home. However, the lease terms for this deal remain abysmal for the taxpayer as half market rate rent is being offered while the taxpayer remains liable for expensive structural liabilities like the HVAC, plumbing, and roof.
“We continue to ask — where was the community input? Was anyone other than Bluff City Pickleball considered to lease this building?”
