Shriners Auditorium

During our home season, we play some games at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington. Read on for answers to frequently asked questions, or email us at info@bostonderby.com with any other questions you have!

Where is the venue?
99 Fordham Rd
Wilmington, MA 01887

Shriners is a cash-only venue so come prepared. There is an ATM on site, but the line can get long!

How do I get there?

By car: Shriners is just 15 minutes north of Boston at exit 39 on I-93. Bear right after the exit and turn left at the first light onto Fordham Road. On game days, you will usually see a large sign pointing the way to roller derby. Shriners is all the way at the end of Fordham Rd. There is ample FREE parking on site!

By rail: Take the Haverhill Commuter Rail line from North Station towards Haverhill and get off at North Wilmington. Walking to Shriners is… doable, but at about 2.5 miles we recommend taking a taxi.

Where can I get tickets?
Before game day you can buy tickets online through EventBrite; online sales end at 12PM on the day of the event.
On game day, tickets will be available first-come, first-serve at the door starting at 4PM. The box office will be open from 4PM-7PM for purchase and will-call pickup.

I’m a first-timer. What should I know before going to a game?
Roller derby is a full contact sport played on roller skates! Our league plays on the flat track under the rules of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and is made up of skaters age 18 and older.

Roller derby in a nutshell: Each team has up to five players on the track each—4 blockers and 1 jammer. The blockers stay in a pack playing defense and offence at the same time! The jammer, the skater with the star on their helmet, scores points by passing blockers on the other team.
We’ve written our own How to Watch Roller Derby guide, and if you only have a few minutes we suggest watching this video for a quick primer.

Are your games family-friendly?
Yes, we’re as family friendly as any other sporting event! We love seeing families, kids, and even birthday parties at our games, we even offer special kids pricing for tickets. Most skaters play under fun pseudonyms, and some of them may be PG or PG-13, but our announcers and vendors keep it PG at all times. If you want to screen skater names ahead of time, just check out our Team pages.

How long is a game?
Roller derby games have two 30 minute halves with a running clock (except during timeouts) and a 15 minute halftime. This means that games usually last between 90 minutes and two hours. Games starting at 5PM should end by 6:30PM, and the second game should end no later than 9PM.

How loud are these games?
When the auditorium is packed, Shriners can get pretty loud, derby is exciting! But the space is big enough that sound isn’t usually a problem. Whistles are a part of the game and we usually have a live band for entertainment. If you’re comfortable at any professional sports arena, you’ll be fine at Shriners. However, if you’re sensitive to sound you should probably bring earplugs, just to be safe.

Are the seats assigned?
Nope, seating is general admission, so get there early to sit with your friends and get the best seats! We do offer special trackside seating for VIP ticket holders available on a first come first serve basis.

Can you accommodate a large group? I want to bring all of my co-workers, Girl Scout Troop, my bachelor/bachelorette party, etc.
Yes, but get there early as seating isn’t reserved in advance! If you’re coming with an extra large group email us at tickets@bostonderby.com for special pricing info.

Is there accessible seating?
Yes! There are reserved seating areas for folks in wheelchairs and with ambulatory impairments.

Will there be food and beverages?
YES! Shriners offers food for purchase, including alcoholic beverages for those over 21 years of age. We also have a variety of food vendors in the lobby selling things from cookies to hot sauce.

Will there be booze?
Yep! Shriners has a full bar with beers on tap. Drink wisely.

Is there air conditioning?
Yes!