Monster truck rally draws 30,000 in Riyadh
RIYADH: At least 30,000 people late Friday jammed the King Fahd International Stadium to watch the spectacle of an American-style Monster Truck Jam with custom trucks performing stunts and motorcyclists performing aerial acrobatic jumps.
The Monster Truck Jam is the first in Saudi Arabia and part of an aggressive push by the General Authority for Entertainment to bring quality entertainment acts from Western countries and the Gulf to the Kingdom.
By providing broader entertainment opportunities for Saudis, the government expects to create more jobs and infuse the economy with additional revenue. From a cultural standpoint the added entertainment provides an outlet for Saudi youths that encourages them to become more engaged in the community.
Monster truck shows and World Wrestling Federation contests have been especially popular among young Saudis. In November, the Green Halls Stadium hosted WWE events over two nights and featured stars Dean Abrose, Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. Last month, the first Comic-Con was held in Jeddah, drawing tens of thousands of fans.
At Friday night’s truck event, fans were treated to trucks, with names like Mohawk Warrior, Blue Thunder, Hot Wheels and Superman, generating up to 2,000 horsepower and reaching up to 100 miles per hour. The 4-meter-tall, 5-ton trucks flew 35 feet high and across 130 feet over small hills, dips and other vehicles.
Faisal Al-Basher, an engineer who watched the show with his two boys, said: “It is good and it is the first time being held here.”