Monster Jam roared into Raymond James Stadium this past weekend and my family and I had the opportunity to attend. Oh what fun we had! Now, mind you, I am not big into cars or trucks but there is just something about Monster Jam that is so much fun! And don't worry if you missed out on this show - they will be returning to Raymond James Stadium again February 1. So let me give you the inside scoop so you will be ready for the next show!
Monster Jam is a super fun family DAY! That's right! Even though the actual show does not start until 7PM, there is plenty to do beforehand! Be sure to get passes to the Pit Party when purchasing your tickets. The Pit Party takes place a few hours before the show right in front of the stadium. This is your chance to get up close and personal with the trucks, meet the drivers and get some autographs. I'm not going to lie - the Pit Party is pretty popular and lines are long to meet the drivers and do some of the special activities, including Monster truck buggy rides, monster truck experiences and inflatable slides (at an additional cost). There are also plenty of FREE activities to enjoy including the BMX stunt shows, poster making and, of course, lots of picture opportunities. My favorite thing to do for sure is to go around and check out all of the trucks. I loved seeing new trucks (to me!) including Xtermigator, Megalodon, the Jester and Wolf's Head.
Monster Trucks are AMAZING! You never really appreciate the sheer size of them until you are standing right next to them. Some fun facts about Monster Trucks - they are approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide. Monster Jam trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, Monster Jam trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster Jam trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air. WOW!
Once the Party in the Pit is over, you have about 90 minutes until the show starts so make sure you bring your tailgating supplies! We fired up our grill, got out the football and had a great time. I would suggest starting your walk from the parking lot to the stadium about 45 minutes before the show starts, especially if you have kids – this gives you plenty of time to get through security, take any needed bathroom breaks and find your seats! You definitely don't want to miss a moment of this show, because once it starts it is 2+ hours of excitement! (Also, don't forget the clear plastic bag policy at Raymond James Stadium - yep, they enforce it for Monster Jam).
The trucks are lined up and ready to go!
There are three main sections of the show - the races, the 2 wheel skills competition and the Freestyle competition. First up are the races. Two trucks compete against each other to see who can race around the track, including a jump, the fastest. The trucks are loud, but I think the fans are louder rooting on their favorites. This race was an exciting one!
The 2 wheel skill competition is a judged event where the drivers will have the opportunity to perform their best stunt while bringing at least two wheels into the air. Here is Xtermigator's attempt!
After intermission it is time for the Freestyle competition, which is my favorite part of the show. The competition gives the drivers 2 minutes to show off and do some fun stunts, including jumps, spins and even attempting to flip over. Here is Son-uva Digger. It's fun to watch, even if they end up on their backs.
We had a special treat the night when we went - the inaugural class of the NEW Monster Jam Hall of Fame was announced and four-time World Champion Dennis Anderson (driver of Grave Digger) will be officially inducted at the Monster Jam awards ceremony coming up at the Monster Jam World Finals XXI in Orlando, Florida in May. Congratulations!
Monster Jam is definitely a memorable night that is fun for the entire family!
If you missed the show this time around, don't worry - Monster Jam will be roaring back into Raymond James Stadium on February 1st!
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I received complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review. All opinions stated are my own.
