Hey, Let’s Talk JudgesZone.com
So, you know Monster Jam, right? Those massive trucks tearing up dirt, flipping through the air like they’re auditioning for a superhero movie? Well, JudgesZone.com is the thing that’s flipped the whole fan experience on its head. It’s this slick little website that lets you and me—yeah, regular fans—score the drivers in real time. I’m talking about sitting in the stands, phone in hand, deciding if that backflip deserves a 10 or if that donut spin was more of a wobbly 6. It’s wild how much it’s changed the game since they rolled it out at World Finals 18. Let’s break it down.
How It All Started
Monster Jam’s been around forever, putting on these insane shows where trucks like Grave Digger crush everything in sight. Back in the day, they had a few judges—sometimes just random fans they’d pluck from the crowd—scribbling scores on clipboards or tapping away on tablets. Worked fine, I guess, but it wasn’t exactly fair. You’d get some guy who loves Max-D giving it straight 10s while ignoring a killer run from a rookie. That’s where JudgesZone.com came in. Tim Furmaniak and the Feld Entertainment crew built it to get fans more involved, starting as this extra “fourth score” thing. By 2017, though, it was the main event—ditching the old “Judges Zone” seats for a full-on digital takeover. Smart move, if you ask me.
Scoring It Yourself
Here’s the deal with how it works—it’s dead simple. You pull up JudgesZone.com on your phone while you’re at the show. The host yells out a three-digit code—like “347” or whatever—and you punch it in. Boom, you’re locked into that event. Say Weston Anderson just ripped a freestyle run, launching Blue Thunder into some crazy air. A little BKT tire pops up on your screen, and you slide it to pick a number from 1 to 10. You’ve got maybe 20 seconds to lock it in before it’s on to the next truck. Then they average all our scores and slap it up on the big screen. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it feels like you’re part of the action—not just yelling into the void.
Think of it like grading your buddy’s attempt at a skateboard trick. He nails a kickflip, you give him an 8. He bails halfway, maybe a 3. Except here, it’s thousands of us doing it at once, and the stakes are a little higher than bragging rights at the skate park.
Why It’s a Big Deal
This thing’s a game-changer. You’re not just some dude in the stands anymore—you’re helping decide who wins. I remember being at a show in Anaheim, scoring Adam Anderson’s freestyle, and seeing my vote nudge him to the top. Felt like I was part of the crew, not just a ticket stub. That’s the magic of it. It’s not some lone judge calling the shots; it’s all of us. Sure, it can get messy—fanboys will spam 10s for Grave Digger even if it faceplants—but it’s way more alive than the old system.
Still, it’s not perfect. Reddit’s monsterjam sub lights up with gripes sometimes. Like this one time, Cynthia Gauthier crushed a run—big air, smooth landing—but Tyler Menninga’s fans flooded the scores, and she got second. Tyler’s run was solid, don’t get me wrong, but Cynthia’s was next-level. That’s the catch with crowd voting: popularity can trump skill. Doesn’t bug me too much, though—it’s Monster Jam, not the Olympics.
The Bumps in the Road
They’ve tweaked it over the years. At World Finals XXI, they mixed fan scores with pros like Dennis Anderson tossing in their two cents. Kept things tighter, I suppose—Blue Thunder’s freestyle was nuts but landed sixth because the pros weren’t as hyped as us. Some fans hated that, said it dulled the chaos. And then there’s the time crunch. You’ve got 20, maybe 30 seconds to vote. Blink, and you’re out. I’ve missed a couple myself, fumbling with my phone while chugging a soda. Livestream folks get screwed too—by the time they see the run, voting’s done. That’s a fix they need to figure out.
But Sam Gomez—he’s one of the Feld bigwigs—keeps pushing this stuff. He’s all about tech like JudgesZone.com, social screens, that kinda thing. Keeps the show feeling fresh, you know?
More Than Just a Website
JudgesZone.com isn’t just about numbers—it’s a vibe. It’s like how we used to argue over who won a street race back in high school, except now it’s official and there’s a monster truck involved. It pulls you into the show in a way that’s tough to beat. Kids love it too—saw a dad and his little girl at a show, both sliding that tire like it was a game. That’s Monster Jam’s whole deal: families, fun, and a little bit of madness.
It’s also bigger than the arena. This is where live events are headed—giving us a say instead of just clapping like trained seals. Think about esports or those voting apps for talent shows. JudgesZone.com fits right in, dragging Monster Jam into the 21st century without losing that raw, engine-revving soul.
What’s Next?
I’d bet they’re not done with it. Imagine if they synced it up for livestreams—let the couch crew vote too. Or threw in some perks, like a leaderboard for fans who nail the scores every time. Maybe even some AI trickery to spot when we’re all just fangirling too hard and balance it out. Point is, JudgesZone.com’s got legs, and Monster Jam’s smart enough to keep it rolling.
Wrapping It Up
Look, JudgesZone.com isn’t flawless—nothing is—but it’s damn cool. Turns you from a guy in a seat to a guy with a say. Started as this side gig at World Finals 18, and now it’s the heartbeat of how we judge these beasts. Next time you’re at a show, try it. Slide that tire, cheer your head off, and know you’re helping write the story. That’s Monster Jam, man—loud, messy, and ours.