A New League

On November 28, 1948, the National Roller Derby League was officially born.

 

The plans for a new league happened two years prior.  Leo Seltzer decided that there would be four cities that would begin play by the end of 1948.  

 

The first game took place at the 69th Regiment Armory between teams from New York and Brooklyn.  New York, being the home team, won that game, 10 to seven.

 

During the 1948-1949 season, the league had four franchises.  They were known as New York, Brooklyn, Bronx-Philadelphia and Chicago.  For this season, only Brooklyn was designated as a road team only.

 

The New York team skated their home games at the 69th Regiment Armory (pictured at the top of the page).  The building, now a national landmark, is located in the Rose Hill section of Manhattan at 68th Lexington Avenue between E. 25th and 26th Streets. 

 

Chicago would skate their home games at the Chicago Coliseum in the southern portion of the city.  Located at Wabash Avenue near 15th Street, the Coliseum was actually the founding home for Roller Derby back on August 13, 1935.

 

Bronx-Philadelphia had a unique setup for their home games.  When the franchise played in the Bronx, the team played at the 22nd Engineers Armory now known as the The Armory or Fort Washington Avenue Armory (above).  The location is at 216 Fort Washington Avenue between W. 168th and 169th Streets in the Bronx borough.  The building is restored today and is used for major indoor track and field meets.

 

When the franchise was in Philadelphia, the team skated their games at the Philadelphia Arena.  The location was at 46th near Market Streets in West Philadelphia.  Also known at one time as the Philadelphia Ice Palace and the Philadelphia Auditorium, the Philadelphia Arena also was the home arena for the Philadelphia (Eastern) Warriors of Roller Games.  Today, it is a housing complex.