Monster Jam Is The Friendliest Motorsport For Fans And Families

If you’re of a certain age, there’s a good chance you have at least one fond memory of attending a Monster Jam event, or itching to go. The series absolutely thrives when it comes to fan engagement, whether those fans be adults or children, men or women — and this year, I attended Monster Jam World Finals XXII in Nashville where I made a point of finding out just what brought so many fans to the Nissan Stadium to brave a rain-soaked event.

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Full disclosure: Monster Jam invited me to join the series at World Finals XXII in Nashville, Tennessee, where it put me up for a weekend and organized a great amount of behind-the-scenes access.

Throughout the weekend, I watched entire families cheer for their favorite trucks, decked out in their fan gear. I watched MJ emcees head into the crowd to ask fans questions and send them home with unique gifts and prizes. I watched fans line up to watch the trucks cruise down Broadway, then pack into the stadium hours before the big show to meet their heroes. And everywhere I looked men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds were having the time of their lives.

“We’re here because [my kids] love it, but, like, I’m just as big a fan as they are,” a woman named Monica told me, referring to her husband and twin boys. As she spoke, she held a Linsey Read Scooby Doo truck in her hands and mused, “I loved this show when I was a kid. Now there’s a Scooby truck, and a woman is driving it? So cool.”

Alex, a father of three rambunctious boys ranging in age from 14 to five, took several minutes out of their lunch break to chat about Monster Jam.

“We’ve been to a couple of [Monster Jam events] near us, but we’ve never been to the Finals,” Alex said. He and his sons had traveled from California just to witness the big finale. “I’ve been bringing them since they were little, and they just love it.”

But what exactly is it that they love? In response, Alex gestured at his eldest son, who was observing the city skyline through the window.

“It’s just fun, right? Everyone, doesn’t matter who, wants to watch a big truck do cool stunts — there’s not really any such thing as ‘growing out of it.’ I think pulling teeth would probably be easier than getting [my teenager] to hang out with me and his brothers, but when I asked if he wanted to come to the World Finals, he was all in. Didn’t even hesitate. I can’t remember the last time that happened.”

The family atmosphere isn’t merely limited to the fans, and you only need one glance at Grave Digger to understand that. Now one of the most recognizable trucks in the world, the original Grave Digger concept was formed by Dennis Anderson back in 1981, then built a year later. Anderson made such a name for his machine that, now, several of his children drive versions of their own. Adam, Weston, and Krysten Anderson grew up with Grave Digger, and now they carry on the family name by driving different iterations of the concept their father designed — in the series they grew up around.

I spoke to Krysten Anderson, the most recent Anderson child to follow in her father’s footsteps, about what it is that makes the series so hospitable.

“Monster trucks kind of bring out the kid in everybody, y’know?” she said. “Grave Digger’s been around for 41 years. You’ve got people in the audience that remember watching Grave Digger when they were kids, and now they’re bringing their kids and their grandkids to come watch us.”

And that concept of family came up over and over again throughout the weekend. Linsey Read attended the awards ceremony with her children, who also dressed up in their finest outfits and read out the winners of various awards. Monster Jam personnel repeatedly referred to each other as a big family. That attitude was reflected in Monster Jam plushies, kid-friendly truck designs, merchandise of all sizes, and drivers of all backgrounds.

The best part, though, is that none of it felt forced, cheesy, or ‘too’ childish. Instead, Monster Jam has struck the kind of balance that keeps kids begging their parents to take them to events, and that keeps those same parents perched on the edge of their seats. Kids and adults alike hold their arms out straight to mimic the fiberglass design of Zombie. A particularly unique stunt is exciting not just for the sheer visual impact but also for the technical skill required by the driver. The series appeals to our desire to be wowed — and Monster Jam wows no matter the age.