Girl Power Reigned Supreme as El Toro Loco Won Last Night's Monster Jam in Toronto!

   

Monster Jam is always an action packed, edge of your seat family production. But last night's competition was particularly so with many a roll over and near misses. From flips, jumps, wheelies and more, I was left with many a moment where my jaw was open in fascination. 

Particularly so when Becky McDonough & El Toro Loco did their Freestyle showdown. That girl can drive, and her skill and win was great to see in an otherwise male dominated sport. The crowd must have thought so too as they were cheering just as loudly when she pulled her 10,000 pound machine to an impressive stop to round off her mad skills! While Ms. McDonough isn't the only driver that drives El Toro Loco, she is the only female driver, as well as, the only female driver in last night's competition. She, without a doubt, deserved that win! Girl power y'all! 

It would be unfair to only talk about El Toro Loco. As to be expected, legend Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger also wowed the crowd with his 360 flip into the air. That takes finesse and guts! Just like Son Uva Digger, driven by Ryan Anderson. He is Dennis Anderson's son who has, I'm 100% sure, monster trucks in his genetics. Son Uva Digger/Ryan Anderson is my son's personal favorite and he gets so excited to cheer him on. 

If you have the chance to check out Monster Jam, you will not be disappointed. It's high energy, fun, nerve wracking and L-O-U-D! Be sure to bring proper ear protection for your kidlets as LOUD doesn't begin to describe it. The vendors did sell some ear protectors for kids for $20, but it doesn't appear that they are rated for legitimate sound suppression. They used to sell actual rated noise suppression headphones at Monster Jam, however they did not have them at this particular show.  It's unknown if they will be available for sale at other venues. If your child or children are sensitive to sound, it would be wise to invest in or borrow proper ear protection ahead of time. And for cheaper, I'm sure. They did have foam ear plugs for sale for $2 a pop, but in my opinion, those would be best suited for adults and adolescents. 

For more information on Monster Jam from my perspective as a parent, check out my 2015 review, as well as, my 2016 Monster Jam review.

As mentioned in my previous post, tickets start as low as $15. Bear in mind that this price does not include taxes, facility charges or service fees. To give you an idea of what you'd be in for with those fees and tax included, you're looking at about $22 per person for base tickets in Toronto. 

If you live outside of the GTA, you can catch any of the following upcoming Monster Jam tours in Canada: 

Winnipeg, MB - January 28th - 29th, 2017 @ the MTS Centre

Edmonton, AB - February 4th - 5th, 2017 @ Northlands Coliseum

London, ON - February 11th - 12th, 2017 @ Budweiser Gardens

Hamilton, ON - April 22nd - 23rd, 2017 @ FirstOntario Centre

Bring on the action!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

Monster Jam is Back in Toronto to Break Your Winter Blues!

   

Break your winter blues this January with Monster Jam in Toronto at the Rogers Centre! This family-friendly live monster truck racing extravaganza is back in town and is sure to get you excited and invigorated - despite the temperatures! These 12' tall monster machines are impressive in their stunts and skill, wowing everyone - young and old. With over 4,000,000 fans attending these shows each year, you know it's going to be good. 

Tickets are on sale now! With tickets starting as low as $15, the event is quite affordable for most.  Bear in mind that this price does not include taxes, facility charges or service fees. In Toronto, with those fees and tax included, you're looking at about $22. This is still a decent price if you're looking for base tickets. Prices & additional fees may vary from venue to venue, and as with many events, a wide variety of ticket pricing is available to meet your needs. You can also purchase a Party in the Pits Pass for $10 per person. This allows you take pictures & get autographs with the drivers, and see their monster trucks up close. Be aware that service fees may also apply to these particular tickets as well. 

In Toronto, there are 2 showtimes. On Saturday, January 28th, it's at 7pm. On Sunday, January 29th, it's at 2pm. This one would be ideal for those with younger kids who are on stricter nap and bedtime schedules. 

If you don't live in the GTA, Monster Jam is hitting up 4 other Canadian cities in 2017:

• Winnipeg, MB - January 28th & 29th, 2017 @ the MTS Centre
• Edmonton, AB - February 4th & 5th, 2017 @ Northlands Coliseum
• London, ON - February 11th & 12th, 2017 @ Budweiser Gardens
• Hamilton, ON - April 22nd & 23rd, 2017 @ FirstOntario Centre

For more information on Monster Jam from my perspective as a parent, check out my 2015 review, as well as, my 2016 Monster Jam review.
See you there!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

Showmanship & Rollovers - Themes at this Year's Toronto Monster Jam Show!

   

The 2016 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour has once again started out with a vroom in Toronto! 

I attended this event this past weekend, and, as expected, it was full of rip roarin' action! Whether it's the side by side racing or the freestyle competition, there was something for everyone at this 2 1/2 hour extravaganza. 

This year, there seemed to be a lot more roll over crashes. This is important to note, so that first timers attending the show don't get alarmed, wondering if the drivers are injured. Drivers sit in the middle of their vehicles and are restrained by a 5 point harness safety system, similar to a car seat. The harness keeps them hanging on, literally and figuratively, while heavy equipment pulls them right side up.

Scooby Doo and Mutt Rottweiler were some of the ones that took a spill, including Northern Nightmare, who took the final wipeout during his freestyle competition. But boy! Did he ever put on one heck of a display! Whether it's the jumps, ticks, stunts, or a back flip, (yes, a back flip!), it's sure to amaze all. Word to the wise - unless you're doing it with a dinky car, or toy monster truck, - do not try this at home! LOL 

Our first experience with Monster Jam was at last year's show.  At that time, there were a lot of distractions for us personally as we naively brought our youngest son who wasn't quite ready to be at this type of event. We weren't able to fully appreciate the show and all that it had to offer that year. This time around, we got to see everything, including each and every roll over.  Whether or not they were planned & occur every year, I appreciated the showmanship at this year's event after one spill in particular. Although part of it might be scripted, the fact that one driver handed their trophy over to another driver who put on one hell of a show and lost only because of a wipeout, was a great thing to see. It's a reminder to children and adults alike, that it's much better and feels better, to do the right thing. Winning isn't everything, and I think it's a great lesson for kids to see play out in this format. 

Going back to my naiveté last time in bringing our toddler with us, I was reminded again this year as to how important ear protection is for kids while at the show. Monster Jam is spectacular, but is also extremely loud. It can be sensory overload for kids, especially young ones, when you're not dulling out some of the cacophony. I had foam ear protectors on for myself, but kids would fare much better with certified noise suppression. You can purchase them cheaper elsewhere, however if you are stuck, they do have 2 options at the venue ranging from $20-$25. Pay particular attention when purchasing the head gear, ensuring that you are purchasing ones that are actually approved noise suppression sets and not just more decorative ones.   

For more information on our first visit to Monster Jam last year, including even more parental perspective, please visit this link. 

Tickets to the show are affordable if you choose the cheaper ones. For the Toronto show, tickets ranged in price from $15 all the way up to $135. And there are many price points in between. As always, I recommend searching online to find any promotions or promo codes so that you get the best bang for your buck. 

There are 7 cities left for the 2016 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Canadian tour. Most locations have 2 shows, typically 1 evening and 1 afternoon show. 

Check out these other Canadian stops to see if you can head out & enjoy it as much as we did: 

Winnipeg - MTS Centre, January 30th-31st, 2016

Edmonton - Rexall Place, February 6th-7th, 2016

Vancouver - BC Place, February 27th, 2016

London - Budweiser Gardens, February 27th-28th, 2016

Hamilton - First Ontario Centre, April 23rd-24th, 2016

Halifax - Scotia Speedworld, May 28th-29th, 2016

Calgary - Stampede Grandstand, September 17th-18th, 2016

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

The Monster Jam Tour is back in Canada for 2016!

   

The Monster Jam Tour is a family-friendly action packed show filled with 12 feet tall monster trucks. These 10,000 pound machines race around a track in side-by-side racing as well as their freestyle competition. They drive up and over obstacles and smash and crash! It's a rip-roaring good time!

In 2016, the Monster Jam Tour has 8 stops throughout Canada: 

Toronto - Rogers Centre, January 16th-17th, 2016

Winnipeg - MTS Centre, January 30th-31st, 2016

Edmonton - Rexall Place, February 6th-7th, 2016

Vancouver - BC Place, February 27th, 2016

London - Budweiser Gardens, February 27th-28th, 2016

Hamilton - First Ontario Centre, April 23rd-24th, 2016

Halifax - Scotia Speedworld, May 28th-29th, 2016

Calgary - Stampede Grandstand, September 17th-18th, 2016

Tickets prices are geared towards everyone's budget! At the Toronto show, tickets range in price on the low end from $15 for kids' tickets and $25 for adult tickets, all the way up to $135 for a Total Access Pass.  Tickets can typically be purchased from Ticketmaster or at your local venue. You can also purchase a Party in the Pits pass for approximately $10. 

For more information on Monster Jam from a parent's perspective, check out my review on last year's experience. 

See you there!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour is Vroom-tastic!

   

'Tis the season for staying indoors, thanks to Mother Nature and her chilly weather! And we're on the hunt for indoor activities that will entertain the whole family! We recently attended The Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour  in Toronto and it was just that! As much as this would not normally be my personal cup of tea, I have to admit, I enjoyed it! I have been challenged to expand my range of interests as a mom of 2 boys, and most of the time I have been pleasantly surprised. 

The Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour is action packed and chalked full of not only testosterone, but also estrogen! They have a few female drivers as well who are driving these 12ft tall and 10,000lb pumped up monster trucks. They race around the obstacle course impressing you with their tricks and skills and it is good ole' rip roarin' fun! These trucks each have their own personalities & style and your kids are sure to find one or more that becomes their favorite! The dirt bike attraction during intermission was also pretty impressive to watch! 

The tickets are surprisingly affordable given the type of event.  Ticket prices are geared towards most families' budgets and range on average from $20-$135 per ticket depending on the location. Despite that being said, check for promo codes for discounted tickets in your area to get the best deal possible if you plan on attending the event. Why spend more if you don't have to? You can also buy a Pit Party Pass, which allows you 2 hours of access in the pit before the show to meet these vehicular beasts and their drivers! Some locations even include this in your ticket price, so check your location to see if this is the case for you. *Note - be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time, as they are usually more expensive the day of. 

It's a good thing that these drivers are buckled in with a 5-point harness and wear fire resistant outfits, shoes, gloves and a helmet as they do some crazy and amazing stunts!  You will see typical Side-by-Side racing and the Freestyle Competition, which was our favorite! Seeing each driver show off their skills and abilities was pretty darn awesome! The kids were loving the full size vehicles getting crushed right before their eyes. Turns out that the drivers for the Monster Jam tour usually end up crushing about 3,000 cars per year! To see them in action, check out this YouTube video! You can also Follow them on Twitter or Like them on Facebook to get updates. And if you want to see Monster Jam goers' personal experiences and posts, search the hashtag #MonsterJam on social media! 

Word To The Wise: In my naiveté in never having attended one of these events before, I highly recommend that you get quality and certified noise suppression ear protection headsets for your children, or for those with noise sensitivity. It really is very LOUD! Did I mention it was LOUD?! (Foam ear plugs will not be enough for the little ones.) I have a 6yr old and a 2yr old and they were needed for both. It is especially essential if you have toddlers and/or preschoolers who don't necessarily understand where the noise is coming from initially, or when it will occur.  It can completely catch them off guard and may even frighten them at first. My advice on this is to try and put the headsets on the younger ones as soon as you grab your seats before the loud noises start, or at the gate if you are running behind and the show has already begun. I would not recommend this event for babies.  They do sell noise suppression headphones at the event, and offered 2 kinds for children. They had some cute Monster Truck wheel type headphones, and blue ones. The vendor told me that the blue ones were certified for noise suppression, and that the Monster Truck wheel headphones were not as suppressing. I would say the Monster Truck ones might be more suitable for a 4yr old and above, where I think the blue ones that are certified are ideal for a toddler or preschooler. I ended up getting the blue ones and they worked great for my youngest. In Toronto, the Monster Truck wheel headsets were $20, and the blue certified ones cost $25. For an additional $5, I strongly recommend that you consider the certified ones for your younger kids, or come prepared with the equivalent that you have purchased elsewhere. Prices and availability may differ at each venue, but that would give you a ballpark figure on how much noise suppression headsets would run you at the event. 

Most cities have 2 shows - one in the evening and one in the afternoon. If you are going with young children like toddlers, the afternoon show might be best. With a typical start time of 7pm and end time of 9-9:30, it might be too much stimulation with all the noise and travel time if you do not live in the same city as the event. Each child is different and you want to make sure that you can take advantage of the entire show.

All in all, we give this event a rip roarin' loud thumbs up! I would say that it's best suited for kids 4yrs and up, but if you need or want to bring your toddler with you, just be prepared and have proper noise suppresion for them or they will likely be too startled to enjoy the show. If your children like to colour, check out these Monster Jam coloring pages! 

For 2015, the Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour is visiting the following cities here in Canada:

Jan 17 & 18 - Toronto, ON @ The Rogers Centre

Feb 7 & 8 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place

Feb 21 & 22 - Winnipeg, MB @MTS Centre

Feb 28 - Vancouver, BC @ BC Place Stadium

Mar 7, 8 & 9 - London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens

Apr 25 & 26 - Hamilton, ON @ First Ontario Centre

May 30 & 31 - Halifax, NS @ Scotia Speedworld  

Sept 12 & 13 - Calgary, AB @ Stampede Grandstand

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****