One of Santa Barbara’s best community resource for amateur athletics has got to be the rink hiding in the back corner of Earl Warren Showgrounds. That rink has housed a tightknit community of sports organizations for more than two decades. From roller hockey to lacrosse, and futsal to roller derby, a diverse community of non-profit organizations have used it as a safe space for everyone from at-risk youth to LGBTQ adults.
Well, that is, until a pickleball detonated in the center of it this week. Now, Santa Barbara Roller Hockey and its member groups is facing off against Dynamite Pickleball Inc.
Santa Barbara Roller Hockey (SBRH), which was responsible for fundraising and building the rink in the late 1990s, has leased the land the rink occupies since it first opened. On June 8, the leadership of Earl Warren Showgrounds served SBRH an impossible ultimatum.
SBRH was told the 501(c)3 organization must beat Dynamite Pickleball’s proposal by Friday, June 30.
This risks losing a multi-sport complex that serves kids, adults, minorities and marginalized community groups.
The rink currently houses five different sports with players coming from communities ranging from Santa Maria to Ventura. It is the only rink between San Luis Obispo and Camarillo. The rink also has the distinction of bring the only arena in California to house so many diverse community activities available for all community members.
Joga Futsal offers soccer instruction and play for all ages. The majority of youth players are Latinx and considered at-risk kids. Joga Futsal provides scholarships so kids can participate in a healthy, fun and safe activity with the added benefit of keeping them off the streets. “We have kids in need and always provide a safe space for them to come and play. We are beyond thankful for what SBRH created for our kids and the community. Without the SBRH rink we will not be able to support disadvantaged kids in the community.” Willie Sims – President Joga Futsal.
The rink also houses youth lacrosse programs. Box Lacrosse is a quicker version of field lacrosse and played in a floor hockey rink. According to Andrew Chalupa, program director for Hotshots Lacrosse, accessibility to the rink at Earl Warren has helped local coaches develop more fundamentally sound lacrosse players.
Box Lacrosse is now played in most cities across the country and is incredibly popular for youth, high school and adult players. There are Pro Leagues, Semi-Pro Lacrosse Leagues, high school and youth leagues.
“In the winter, we need the Rink because the kids need to be able to play somewhere where The Brawlin’ Betties Roller Derby team, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, have called Earl Warren Showgrounds home for more than 10 years. The Betties play flat track roller derby, a full-contact sport play on quad roller skates. The Betties schedule their twice-weekly practices through SBRH.
“It’s incredibly frustrating and disheartening. Our league, and this sport as a whole, is a safe place for people who may not fit in or feel comfortable in traditional sport environments. Our skaters are so diverse; BIPOC individuals; those who identify as trans, non-binary, and women; LGBTQIA+ individuals. We truly represent a diverse cross section of Santa Barbara,” she said. To lose this rink space is devastating to our league. There simply isn’t another equivalent space for us.” Kimberly Colvin, President of Mission City Roller Derby.
With the clock ticking, it appears that Dynamite Pickleball may succeed in severely damaging or even snuffing out a number of non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting underserved portions of the community if the Earl Warren board and community does not step in.
Keith Severson is president of Santa Barbara Arena Sports.