Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Wells Fargo Center Becomes Dirt Pit, October 3, 4

Gigantic high flying, car crushing trucks roar into Wells Fargo Center for three Monster Jam® performances beginning on Friday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. and  Saturday, October 4 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $25 and are currently on sale exclusively through ComcastTIX online at ComcastTIX.com, by phone at 800-298-4200 or in person at Wells Fargo Center box office.

Monster Jam® is one of the most popular monster truck tours in the world, performing to over 4 million fans annually. Approximately 12-feet tall and about 12-feet wide, monster 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 trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster trucks can fly up to 130-feet in the air, a distance greater than 14 cars side-by-side.

For the second time in history, Wells Fargo Center will be transformed into a dirt pit on Thursday, October 2.  Over 50 truckloads of dirt will be dumped onto the Wells Fargo Center floor, filling the 200-feet by 85-feet hockey rink. 

This year’s show features first time appearances by the amazing Spiderman and world famous Monster Mutt Dalmatian trucks. Monster Jam events consist of two different forms of competition; racing and freestyle. Racing is traditional bracket racing, where the first truck to cross the finish line with the least number of penalties is the winner. The freestyle competition allows the trucks time on an open floor to show off their skills as they finesse the huge machines in a jaw dropping display of punishing stunts and amazing tricks.  

Headlining this year’s Monster Jam show is Philadelphia favorite and former United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) world racing champion Grave Digger. Grave Digger, driven by Monster Jam legend Dennis Anderson came up with the concept for Grave Digger in 1981. He built the truck out of an old 1957 Chevy Panel Wagon using parts that he scrounged from junkyards. Grave Digger is one of the most decorated Monster Jam trucks in the world as he has won four Monster Jam World Finals Championships, capturing the racing title in 2004 and 2006, and the freestyle title in 2000 and 2010.

Spiderman, driven by Bari Musawwir will sling into Wells Fargo Center sporting its namesake’s classic red and blue color scheme, Spider-Man is a custom concept Monster Jam truck wrapped with painted on webs. Musawwir comes from the popular world of radio controlled trucks. After dominating in a radio controlled Monster Jam truck competition, Monster Jam officials decided to test his skills in a 10,000 pound machine, in which he had a pair of impressive test sessions behind the wheel of the big Monster Jam trucks. In March of 2012, Musawwir, and Spider-Man won the first ever Monster Jam World Finals Young Guns Championship. 

Monster Mutt Dalmatian is similar to the average family dog only its legs are six foot tires and grew to almost twelve feet tall. Monster Mutt Dalmatian has massive floppy ears, a tongue and even a tail. Monster Mutt Dalmatian is driven by Candice Jolly one of the five outstanding female drivers competing in Monster Jam. Monster Mutt Dalmatian is a huge fan favorite and can be seen at Monster Jam World Finals.

Captain’s Curse, the pirate themed truck driven by Alex Blackwell, is one of the most popular trucks on the Monster Jam circuit. In 2007, Captain’s Curse made its debut in Las Vegas at the Monster Jam World Finals.  Blackwell has made this Monster Jam truck a star and was crowned the 2007 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Champion in its debut appearance.

El Toro Loco is one raging bull who can smell the fear of its competitors. In 2001, the custom built bull was introduced to a crowd in Lafayette, Louisiana and a few years later, shared the Freestyle Championship title at the 2004 Monster Jam World Finals. One of the most recognizable Monster Jam trucks in the sport, the crazy bull can be counted on to give its all in the ring.

Black Stallion should be known as the Monster Jam truck with the most “firsts.” It was the first Monster Jam truck to have shocks specifically made for the truck and driver, Mike Vaters.  Vaters was the first to design and build a Bypass Tube shock creating 36’ of travel, which allows the truck’s shock to travel further. Another first came in 1999, when Vaters and Black Stallion successfully jumped another Monster Jam truck while driving forward. Three years later, they jumped another Monster Jam truck, but this time in reverse.

Overkill Evolution represents the natural progression of Monster Jam truck technology by constantly adapting and staying relevant in today’s world of Monster Jam trucks.  Mike Vaters II, son of Mike Vaters driver of Black Stallion, made a huge impact with this newly designed truck by winning the 2014 Young Guns Shootout Championship and claimed the Monster Jam Rookie of the Year Award.      

Hot Wheels’ Firestorm truck driven by Scott Buetow is the first of its kind as it is constructed with state-of-the-art laminate technology. This truck is made of carbon fiber, Kevlar and E-glass; which are also used to make parts found on the International Space Station. The body weighs half that of a normal fiberglass body. This Monster Jam truck is 17 feet long and 11 feet high, weighs 10,000 lbs. and sports a 1,500 horsepower engine. Buetow started competing in the 2011 Monster Jam season driving Iron Man. He won the 2011 Monster Jam “Wow Factor of the Year” award and in 2013, took on the challenge of driving the Team Hot Wheels Firestorm Monster Jam truck.

The Party in the Pits, which gives fans of all ages the opportunity to meet the drivers of these massive monster trucks as well as get up close and personal to these enormous machines, will be on Saturday, October 3 at 11 a.m.  Fans interested in attending can purchase a pit pass exclusively through ComcastTIX online at ComcastTIX.com, by phone at 800-298-4200 or in person at Wells Fargo Center box office.

For exclusive backstage info and pictures follow us on twitter at @WellsFargoCtr, #WFCMonsterJam and on Facebook at Facebook.com/ WellsFargoCenter. To receive advance notice and special offers to future events, join the free Wells Fargo Center CyberClub at wellsfargocenterphilly.com.

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

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