Back In The Saddle – My Weekend At The KIA Center

When I started with Monster Jam back in 2016, it was in the role of a “Live Event Host”, more specifically I would be the pit reporter on Stadium Championship Series West. It was a contracted role meant to last 11 weeks with the possibility of more events in the future. Being out in front of tens of thousands excited Monster Jam fans with the sound of 12,000 pounds of steel revving up at every chance was an absolute thrill and had me instantly hooked.

 

Here we are eight years later, and I am still hooked, more so than ever before and I love being in the broadcast booth. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than in the Monster Jam Studio with you wonderful people welcoming me into your homes each week so I can deliver thrilling Monster Jam action with our broadcast and tell fantastic stories on our podcast. However, I’d be stretching the truth a tad if I said I didn’t miss being out there at the desk from time to time surrounded by powerful trucks and incredible fans.

 

Last weekend I got to dust myself off and head to the KIA Center in Orlando, which by the way is only thirty minutes from my house, to take over the play-by-play desk and rock the home of the Orlando Magic, with three intense events.

 

My first impression was how amazing it was to be back at the pit party. During World Finals weekend, I was able to get down to the pit party briefly, but I didn’t have much of a chance to really take it in. That changed in Orlando where I had the opportunity to host one and walk around meeting and chatting with fans throughout the experience.

 

We had a fantastic crew working the event which was evident with the perfect execution of the Power Rush. After the final bar of the Monster Jam Theme Song, I bellowed out “This Is Monster Jam” and the lights went out, the ribbon boards popped with red, pyro splashed, and the sound of 8 Monster Jam trucks clocking in for work ignited the arena into a huge roar. From management to A/V, everyone was an all-star player as were the fans. Through all three events, the crowds were electric. With Hurricane Debby on her way to Central Florida, it did not stop us from having packed houses, even on Sunday afternoon when the rain started coming on strong.

 

I finally got the chance to work another live event with the infamous K Yung, who is one of the best do-it-all hosts Monster Jam has ever had. This was the first one we hosted together since we brought live events back to life in Arlington after the pandemic and it didn’t disappoint. This was my first time working with Christina Moore, who seamlessly made her way around the KIA Center, making each fan she interacted with feel like a star. I would happily sign on to any event with these two on the team.

 

One other exciting element is that Monster Jam has changed the game with our live stream coverage. The fact that I was able to have events in Oakland and Newark on my laptop as I called the Orlando action was an unbelievable advantage. Giving fans real-time updates of all the action across the sport, keeps us in the conversation with other major live sporting events, although I challenge anyone to find another sport as entertaining to watch live with the whole family.

 

I have now had the pleasure to be back with the live event teams twice this year with hopefully more to come. Thank you to everyone who came out to Orlando to experience Monster Jam Live and if you haven’t yet, head to www.monsterjam.com to find an event near you.