Monster Jam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monster Jam is a television show and live event created by Live Nation (formerly Clear Channel Entertainment). It is done under the umbrella of USHRA and features live events around the United States. Although individual event formats can vary greatly based on the "intermission" entertainment, the marque entertainment is always the races and freestyle competitions by monster trucks.
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[edit] Live events
Although Monster Jam events are held year round, the traditional competitive season (when televised shows are taped) runs from January to March, with a few events to start off the season in November. During the winter run, it is not unusual for up to 10 events to be run in different areas on the same weekend, with one or two major stadium events with 10-16 trucks, and a group of smaller arena events with 4-8 trucks. The season culminates in the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas in late March.
According to the USHRA in 2004 season more than 2.5 million people attended these events.[1]
Because of the large number of events and massive popularity of the series, the list of trucks competing in the series is the longest of any promoter. The most popular trucks, which are usually featured on the television show, come from three primary groups: Trucks (or names) which are owned by Live Nation (such as Grave Digger and Madusa), independents or "privateers" (such as Gun Slinger and Avenger), and "corporate privateers" which are independently owned but sponsored by major companies (such as Bounty Hunter, sponsored by CSK Auto, and T-Maxx, sponsored by Traxxas). As some trucks are owned by Live Nation, a constant criticism is that events have the deck stacked in favor of their trucks, if not completely rigged. There is little evidence to support the claim, however, and Live Nation maintains that events are run fairly.
[edit] Television Show
The Monster Jam television show originated in the United States as "Inside Monster Jam" (IMJ), a half hour clip-based show which reviewed several different events on one episode, on ESPN2 in 1997. When Live Nation-Motor Sports (then known as PACE Motor Sports) bought out USA Motorsports in late 1998, IMJ was cancelled and Motor Madness on TNN, which had been airing USA Motorsports events among other forms of racing, began covering USHRA events exclusively. The show became known as "Motor Madness: Monster Jam" and eventually just "Monster Jam". In 2002, the reformatting of TNN caused the cancellation of the show, and the 2003 season was not aired, except for a last minute agreement that brought that year's World Finals to Speed Channel. The one-off airing rated well and since February 2004, the entire series has aired on Speed Channel. From July 2005, the show can be seen in the United Kingdom on music television channel Kerrang! TV and occasionally on The Hits.
[edit] Other
Mattel's Hot Wheels brand produces toy versions of monster trucks under the Monster Jam name. The real-life trucks produced as toys and the Monster Jam name itself are officially licensed through Live Nation.
