Over the weekend I took a short trek (sarcasm) out to Las Vegas fromblustery New York City to check out the 2018 Monster Jam World Finals; I wasnot disappointed by any means. The Feld Entertainment teamreally knows how to treat their guests right. First, I flew out on Fridaymorning on a direct flight from John F. Kennedy airport on Virgin AmericaAirlines – first timer – to the Vegas landing strip.
Next, I arrived at Sam Boyd Stadium where I was greeted with open arms frommy lovely PR friends. They gave me a tour of the area, introduced me to Feldexecutives and put us up in an upper suite where we were able to catch all ofthe action from both nights of the event. I have to say, it was pretty fashionable.
Another portion of what topped off this journey’s stylistic demeanor was mynew Pradasunglasses that GlassesUSA.com provided – they have a whole lineupof designer brands that can make any sporting event classy, fashion-forward andjust overall stylish. We all know that I live for style and will aim to makesports even more trendy with a hint of flair. GlassesUSA.com definitely helpedout with this.
Lastly, the Feld team reserved rooms at the luxurious HiltonLake Las Vegas Resort & Spa where I was able to finally salvagewarmth from the, what seemed to be, 19 northeastern storms back in New York. Itwas such a great experience and am very grateful.
Now that I have chatted about the experience, let me dive into the sport ofMonster Jam.
I have to admit that I knew nothing about Monster Jam before coming out hereoutside of the basics – they are larger, monstrous trucks that ravish throughwhat’s in their way.
Monster Jam World Finals
The weekend consisted of two nightsof events. The first was the racing portion. This was set up in a double-downface-off.
Did I lose you?
That’s how I felt when I firstheard that. I think the confusion was present in the expressions on my face butit all clicked once I saw the bracket system that they used.
Basically, two drivers line up at atime, go head-to-head and trail on a specific course. They are rounding cornersand making a single jump toward the finish line where it determines who winsthat particular heat race. The heats consisted of quarter-finals, broken downto the semi-finals and then ultimately the finals where the best of the firsttwo rounds face-off and compete.
The results from Friday night’srace consisted of Adam Anderson, who drove one of the “Grave Digger” trucks,beating out Tyler Menninga by .061 with a final lap time of 16.364 seconds.
The second evening was thefreestyle event. This is the event that everyone may be a little more familiarwith. The drivers have a dedicated amount of time to showcase their abilitiesin flips, tricks and basically anything that they can do with these monstertrucks. It certainly is a spectacle. They are braving ramps and gettingairborne to win the event, which is scored by fans through the Monster Jam app.This was an interesting factor as it does not allow for bias from judges,rather the fans decide and determine the victor of the night.
The choreography of the event andhow quickly these huge vehicles move through each heat race is incredible. TheMonster Jam Operations Team has this down to a science and allows the show tomove seamlessly, never leaving a dull moment.
Speaking of choreography, the freestyle event was beautifully demonstratedas it finished with Ryan Anderson securing the “W” with a combination of abackflip into a moonwalk.
This was the first freestyle win for Ryan Anderson and two victories for theAnderson family as they took both racing and freestyle championships.
Following the main events, Feld and Monster Jam really grabbed my attentionby showcasing an interactive and beautifully depicted rendition of the Rampagetrailer with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This portion of the night featuredthree monster trucks which represented characters from the new feature film andthey incorporated clips of the movie on screen as the action was happening onthe track.
In my opinion, this truly portrayed what the Feld company can do withstorytelling and marketing, which is clearly evident in Monster Jam as well astheir other properties. I think they brilliantly incorporated this and want toapplaud them for it.
Feld Entertainment and Monster Jam
Also, during my time in Vegas, Iattended a few press junkets where we were able to sit down and talk with Feldexecutives and learned a great deal of the Monster Jam portion of the company.We talked with Juliette Feld, COO and Executive Vice President of FeldEntertainment, Magnus Danielsson, Vice President of International Motor Sportsand Bill Easterly, Vice President of Operations.
I found out that the series is heading in a more international direction andaiming at major venues worldwide to attract new audiences, as well as remainingloyal to the current fans.
“When we go into a new market, we’re basically launching a new brand,” saidDaniellson as he spoke about how each demographic and territory is a new featof its own and requires specific attention.
He spoke about how Monster Jam is not just about attracting children but ratherthe family overall. This is becoming more and more relevant as the series isexpanding and they are attracting new professional drivers; including a largerpresence of women. I learned that Monster Jam is one of the only internationalseries to have women race on the same circuit as men, which is a major steppingstone to its success.
Side note: women in the series kick ass and trailblaze over competitors –pun definitely intended.
“Monster Jam is unique because it’s an intersection of high-performance andthe athletes,” said Feld. “It’s authentic and resonates with fans around theworld … It’s non-verbal entertainment.”
She was absolutely correct. The trucks are loud, beasts of vehicles that letthe noise and tricks speak for themselves. It’s an incredible sight as thesetrucks fly through the air, spin, flip, race and other technical tricks that Ihave no clue what they are called. It was a form of entertainment that I’venever seen in person before and I am glad I was able to experience it.
Monster Jam University
Have you ever wanted to learn howto become a professional monster trucker? It was not on my bucket list but Ilearned that there are steps to become one. It’s through Monster Jam University… and yes, you will be graded. So, bring your “A” game because you have to gothrough this schooling in order to be a Monster Jam athlete.
The University evaluates and tests your skills and abilities as you arelearning from professional trainers. They ensure that safety is at the top oftheir list and want to be sure that you are learning all the necessaryattributes it takes to become a successful driver.
The Illinois-based school has circuits that are assembled as exact replicasof the tracks that are seen throughout the series, so athletes can experienceevery grade of dirt, jump and obstacle that they may see during an actualevent. This is also where Feld and the Monster Jam technicians can test thevarious terrains and courses that they would like to use in competitions.
Designed like an accelerated course in school, Monster Jam University packsin lessons over a minimum of nine days and you are on the ground learning foreight hours a day. Attendees have access to three different types of vehiclesto experience the nuances of each and how they handle on the tracks.
Can you tell that I enjoyed the weekend at Monster Jam World Finals inVegas? It was an eye-opening experience to a sport that I was not all toofamiliar with and I am glad that I was able to check it out.
If you are interested in the series and want to check out events that areclose to you, visit the Monster Jam website.
Follow Shaun Melady on Instagram at @ShaunMelady.
