This Is The Big League
This is NASCAR.
That doesn’t sound right.
This is IndyCar.
Still not right.
This is the XFL.
Okay, they stole that.
This is Monster Jam!
Now that is the million-dollar line.
I am fortunate enough to make a living saying that special phrase on national television and at live events all over the world. This is because Monster Jam is a growing phenomenon. These Steel Titans have excited fans on 6 different continents (Antarctica we are coming for you.)
Going Prime Time
Monster Jam has been around since 1998, with Feld Entertainment taking over control in 2008. What started as small shows at various arenas and speedways has now evolved into huge events at football stadiums and pro-sports arenas spanning the entire globe.
Having debuted on Speed Channel in 2003, Monster Jam has since appeared on TNN, CBS, FS1, and now NBC and NBCSN, with special episodes such as the World Finals, All-Star Challenge and the Top 25 Highlights of 2019 appearing in prime time slots on NBC with millions of viewers watching.
Early in 2019, NBCSN was announced as the new home of Monster Jam television as part of a deal that included Monster Energy Supercross. The first year on the new network saw us with some less than desirable time slots and getting bumped regularly for the NHL Playoffs. Our audience still managed to find us and our ratings were up from the 2018 season on FS1.
The network started to take notice. Motorsports are very popular on NBCSN but throughout 2019 Monster Jam couldn’t seem to get much traction when it came to promotion. Now with the sport’s surging popularity, the time slots are significantly better, NBC writers are posting about the product, and Monster Jam consistently shows up on the NBC Sports Youtube channel.
Humble Beginnings
When I was a kid, my parents took me to see a monster truck show at the Baltimore Arena. It was there that I laid eyes on Grave Digger for the very first time. She was beautifully driven by Dennis Anderson who would go on to win four World Championships and spawn multiple children who are building their own legacy in Monster Jam. Adam Anderson and Ryan Anderson have combined for 7 World Finals Championships and Krysten Anderson is one of the most popular athletes in the Triple Threat Series.
If you would’ve told that kid back in Baltimore that one day he would be interviewing Dennis Anderson on a regular basis, and the Anderson boys will help teach him everything he needs to know about the inner workings of a Monster Jam truck, he would’ve said “Hell Yeah.”
The fact that Monster Jam is now considered in the same breath as NASCAR, IndyCar, and Supercross is a testament to our fans, the network, and the hard work of so many people that help put the best product out on a weekly basis.
Biggest Event Of The Year
Monster Jam World Finals is an epic 2-day event that will once again see the crowning of seven World Champions. After a long run in Las Vegas, World Finals 21 will return to Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida for the second straight year on May 2nd and May 3rd. If you haven’t been to one of these, pack your bags and head to Disney World, but don’t go see the mouse until May 4th.
You will be able to attend the largest pit party in all of motorsports. Monster Jam also offers more accessibility to its stars than any other sport period. In NASCAR, you get an hour, maybe. With Supercross, you get an hour, maybe. At Monster Jam you get four full hours of their undivided attention.
Treating the fans like they are a part of the team is a huge reason for the long-standing success of Monster Jam. It is also one of the only sports in the world where fans can help judge the competitions. Can you name another sport that offers that kind of package? Go ahead I’ll wait.
Women’s Evolution
Monster Jam is also one of the only sports in the world where male and female athletes compete for the same championships. In 1999, Debra Miceli began driving Madusa. She would have a Hall of Fame career in pro wrestling but would go on to be a pioneer in Monster Jam. Only 7 drivers in history have won a Freestyle and Racing World Championship and she happens to be one of them. Little girls saw her drive 12,000 pounds of steel and aspired to be a driver when they grew up. Now we have a roster of some of the best female athletes in the world. In 2019, we crowned two female World Finals Champions in Orlando and now female fans all over the world can see their dream become reality.
The Granddaddy Of Them All
WWE has done an amazing job of trademarking its WrestleMania verbiage. Since they own the XFL and have stolen our catchphrase I shall now plagiaries the XFL. Monster Jam World Finals is our Showcase Of The Immortals. It truly is the Grandest Stage Of Them All. It is our WrestleMania. Our World Series. Our SuperBowl. However, if you head on down to Miami, good luck getting access to Patrick Mahomes.
The next episode of Monster Jam airs on Tuesday, February 4th, at 6 pm EST on NBCSN. For more tickets, results, and more information go to MonsterJam.com.
The author is the host and play by play announcer for Monster Jam television.
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