The 2010 season marked the return for one of the most prestigious venues in the history of monster trucks: The Pontiac Silverdome. TMB was fortunate enough to be part of both the inaugural event (Domination in the Dome) and this November’s “Monster Truck Fall Shootout”. Between the two shows, names including Bigfoot, Excaliber, and Virginia Giant made their return to the hallowed building to once again do battle. Other story lines, including the return of Eric Tack to pilot Bigfoot 11 for the show and the rebirth of the “Michigan Ice Monster” added nostalgic flavor and got my wheels turning as to how the legacy of the Silverdome could be further amplified.
The Pontiac Silverdome 11/13/10
Would a promoter in today’s monster truck world be able to successfully market an old-school style monster truck show in the Silverdome, including a full on truck and tractor pull and mud bog, alongside a full on “Battle of the Monster Trucks” between some of the old school trucks that are being plucked from fence rows and revived today? Would the average fan in Detroit who is used to the fast paced and high flying nature of today’s monsters be interested in paying to attend a show that showcases the roots of monster trucks? After seeing the immense success of Jeff Cook’s 4×4 Off Road Truck Show Challenge in Auburn, Indiana this past October, I think the answer is yes. What do you think? If you were given the opportunity to promote a show in the legendary Pontiac Silverdome, what style event would you promote and why?
I would love to see an old school type event at the Silverdome like you are talking about. Why? Because that is what I grew up with and really miss it these days. Monster trucks I think got boring in the way they do things now. They are all turning courses and the roundy-round style events where they just chase each other around is really lame in my opinion. I miss some of the old style “drag races” where they just went straight and fast! I also really miss the truck and tractor pulls. They are hardly on TV anymore and all the monster trucks on TV are all monster jam, which is cool but nothing compared to the old monster trucks. The Silverdome is legendary in the monster truck world and it would be great to see just such a show come back! Glad to see there are still thoughts in people’s heads about that other than mine. Thanks
Old Style Monster Trucks would be awesome… The old ways were more exciting. Seeing the truck and tractor pulls, and mudd Bogs… Who cares about which multi-million dollar corporations can build the best and most technical truck… Lets see the trucks that get built by the everyday guy from his garage or barn and puts them through their paces. That was a lot of the fun was to see the creativeness and ingenuity that comes from peoples brains, and builds them… What ever happened to putting six engines on a frame and pulling that huge sled… A lot of these big named Monster trucks started out as Mud boggers, lets go back to the roots and replay the good times. it’s just gotten down right boring. the trucks of today, they’re cool, but they’re all basically the same. It’s boring… lets see the monster trucks play in the mudd, pull the sled, and have fun like the old days.
While many of the hardcore fans who frequent this site may like the idea of an “old school” event, the general public has been conditioned to expect the mass carnage of Monster Jam. Seeing monster trucks get maybe a couple feet of air will likely bore those fans to tears, and you definitely need casual fans to buy tickets in order for the event to be a success.
I first started enjoying monster trucks around 1990, and even I no longer feel a great deal of excitement when it comes to leafer type trucks. They were cool back then, but the feats that modern trucks can achieve are far more impressive. That doesn’t mean that I need to see guys tear up their equipment, because I don’t. I am much more impressed when a driver can pull off an awesome performance and drive the truck off the track.
As for tractor pulls and mud bogs, those never really excited me. Tractor pulls especially always seemed completely boring. Including those events would make me less likely to spend my money on a ticket.
I’d love to see some old school Monster Truck events as well. Miss mud bogging and tractor pull so much. Today’s Monster Jam is ok but I think, more oriented to kids. Bring back the origins, the roots of this sport! Cheers!