The Homewood Village Board approved a temporary, month-to-month agreement allowing the Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby team to continue using the Homewood Auditorium as the village prepares for upcoming renovations at the Feb. 24 meeting.
Under the agreement, the Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby LLC will be permitted to use the auditorium at 2010 Chestnut Road beginning March 1. The arrangement will remain in place until renovation work begins this spring or until the village ends the agreement, Homewood Assistant Village Manager Terence Acquah said.
The board previously renewed a month-to-month lease with the Homewood Arts Council in July 2025, allowing continued use of the facility. That lease was terminated in December as the village began preparing for planned improvements to the auditorium, he said.
(Colin Thomas/Thomas Photographic Services)
During the Arts Council’s tenancy, the Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby used the space for practices, events and youth programming. As renovation planning moves forward, the organization requested temporary access to continue holding practices and youth classes until construction activities begin, Acquah said.
The newly approved agreement limits use of the facility to roller derby practices, training sessions and other non-spectator activities unless additional permission is granted. The organization will pay $200 per month to cover professional cleaning costs, he said.
According to Acquah, the short-term arrangement allows community programming to continue while maintaining flexibility in the renovation timeline.
Related stories:
- Roller Derby returns to Homewood Auditorium on Saturday (Feb. 19, 2024).
- Roller derby: full contact action amid theatrics (May 1, 2023).
- Free Wheeling offers entry into world of roller skating (May 28, 2022).
