Raycom-Legacy Content Company Announces Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Crushing It! Season 2
Raycom-Legacy Content Company Announces Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Crushing It! Season 2 The epic six-episode nationally syndicated television series returns bigger than before with an all-access look into the spectacular Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live™ tour July 15, 2020: Charlotte, NC – Raycom-Legacy Content Company is launching Season 2 of the thrilling television series Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Crushing It! The unscripted, spontaneous entertainment series highlights the massive thrills and epic vehicles of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live experience. Series hosts Tommy Kane and Kristen Beat return to take viewers inside the exhilarating world of monster trucks with exciting new stories and unprecedented access to the creators and stars of the international Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live tour. “We’re excited to continue to serve our fans unique content and exclusive access into the fastest growing tour in the monster truck industry,” said Ken Hudgens, President & CEO of Raycom-Legacy Content Company. The 30-minute, six-episode series produced by Raycom-Legacy Content Company will air in 115 US markets from July 18th – October 31st. The series will also air on MAVTV. Episode summaries follow: 1: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Crushing It! is back and bigger than before! Don’t miss a behind the scenes look of what it takes to be a monster truck driver with driver, Christian Stormin’ Norman. The trucks roll into Mattel headquarters for a day of monster truck fun. Experience the making of the Crushing It! soundtrack. 2: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Crushing It! returns to Mattel headquarters and sits down with a legendary Hot Wheels® designer to talk about the creation of the iconic Bone Shaker skull. Kick back with the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live team while they visit driver, Derick Anson, for his annual Halloween party and hang out with 5-year-old Aiden who is “crushing” a chronic health condition. 3: Go back in time to learn all about the person who invented monster trucks, Bob Chandler! Get an exclusive look at the original monster truck, BIGFOOT®, and the team behind all the action. 4: Experience the very first Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live show in Edinburg, Texas. As you watch the thrilling jumps and stunts of these epic monster trucks, learn the science behind what makes these monster trucks fly high and go fast. Get behind the wheel of a monster truck with host, Tommy Kane, and learn how to drive a legendary monster truck. 5: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live goes across the pond for the first ever international tour in Europe. Get a backstage pass with Rebecca Schnell, driver of Hot Wheels® Racing #1, as she prepares for her first monster truck tour with her husband, Darron, driver of BIGFOOT®. Visit Manchester, England with event host, Freddie Sheppard, and see what it takes to pull off a European tour! 6: Hit the road with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live to visit Cody Elkins at his home and witness some dazzling stunts from the superstar of Freestyle Motocross! Demo Derby visits Victory Junction, a camp for children with serious or chronic medical conditions. Learn about the design process in making a toy monster truck with designers at Mattel headquarters. “The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live series embraces challenges with out-of-this-world crashing and smashing in a way that’s true to Hot Wheels DNA,” said Roberto Stanichi, Senior Vice President, Hot Wheels and Global Head of Vehicles. “By bringing back Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Crushing It! for another season, we’re able to bring the excitement straight to the homes of families and fuel young fans’ imaginations as they replicate Monster Truck crushing on the screen with their toys at home.” Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, launched in 2019 by Raycom-Legacy Content Company in partnership with Mattel, Inc., delivers an exhilarating family entertainment experience for kids of all ages. The initially launched tour expanded to Europe in 2020 under a new partnership with Live Nation. For more information on the series and local television listings visit www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com/crushing-it. To see an exclusive premiere of each full-length episode, join The Official Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Group Page. Starting July 17th, join Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live and a variety of performers as they host a watch party at 8PM EST, every Friday night for 6 weeks, where they will premiere each episode! About Mattel Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company and owner of one of the strongest catalogues of children and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends® and MEGA®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com. About Raycom-Legacy Content Company Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a large-scale event operation, promotion, content production, licensing and media firm. The company produces entertainment experiences including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™, an international Monster Truck tour visiting North America and Europe. Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a partnership between Raycom Sports – a leading independent sports marketing, event management and production firm – and Legacy Motorsports Events – which was co-founded by entertainment and motorsports executives Ken Hudgens, Tim Murray, Eric Cole and Bob Boggess. The company is based in Charlotte, N.C. *Hot Wheels Basic Cars Assortment is the number one selling toy in the world based on units sold according to NPD
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Features Return of Hometown Legend BIGFOOT® at St. Charles Show
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Features Return of Hometown Legend BIGFOOT® at St. Charles Show The king of monster trucks, BIGFOOT®, returns home for the first time in 10 years in worldwide family entertainment tour featuring iconic Hot Wheels® monster trucks! December 17, 2019: St. Charles, MO– For the first time, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ will visit Family Arena on January 4-5, 2020 for three epic performances! Families and fans of all ages will experience the thrill of watching hometown favorite BIGFOOT, the one that started it all, compete with famous Hot Wheels monster trucks in an exhilarating action-packed show for the whole family! “We are so excited to be back in front of our hometown – I hope to see as many of our local fans as possible! And to be working with Hot Wheels again is just wonderful, especially as we all believe that the kids are what this is all about!” Bob Chandler, founder and owner of BIGFOOT, The Original Monster Truck®, who is credited with starting the entire Monster Truck industry. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live brings the only opportunity to see real-life versions of the iconic Hot Wheels monster trucks toys including Bone Shaker™, Tiger Shark™, V8 Bomber™, Demo Derby and Hot Wheels® Racing 1. Highlighting the show is the exciting return of the Original Monster Truck, BIGFOOT, to the St. Louis market for the first time in 10 years! Fans will be fully immersed in exciting action and competitions as their favorite monster trucks perform daring jumps and stunts with epic bashing and crashing throughout the show. In addition, all event performances will include a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot MEGASAURUS, and the high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Freestyle Motocross! Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live always delivers a great value for the whole family, with kids tickets just $8! Tickets and event information are available at www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com. Show times are as follows: Saturday, January 4, 2020 – 12:30pm /Crash Zone 10:00am Saturday, January 4, 2020 – 7:30pm /Crash Zone 5:00pm Sunday, January 5, 2020 – 1:30pm /Crash Zone 11:00am The popular Crash Zone Pre-Show Party is FREE with every ticket purchase and held 2-1/2 hours before every performance! Fans are invited to come out early for a chance to get up close and personal with the stars of the show, collect autographs from all the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live performers and see their favorite monster truck in real life form. A valid event ticket is required to enter the venue for the Crash Zone Pre-Show Party but does not guarantee entry as there is a Crash Zone event capacity, which will be monitored by the venue on event day. Entry into the Crash Zone Pre-Show Party will be on a first come, first serve basis. A FREE post-show autograph session will take place on the concourse after every show. Fans are invited to stay after the show to get photos and autographs from the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live performers. The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live tour is a partnership between Mattel and Raycom-Legacy Content Company. Visit www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com for more information. About BIGFOOT® BIGFOOT®, The Original Monster Truck®, started life as the Chandler family 4X4, becoming a promotional tool for their 4WD business, later rising to be 1 of the “Top 5 Marketing Vehicles of All Time,” leading to the creation of the entire Monster Truck industry. BIGFOOT has 50 National Championships and numerous world records, has appeared in numerous movies, and has traveled to over 25 countries. Today the team includes 5 full-time race and 2 full-time display trucks, the world’s only All-Battery-Powered Monster Truck, the world’s Tallest & Heaviest Pick-up truck, and BIGFOOT #1, the truck that started it all. They see over 4 million people live each year, and in 2018 appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Blockbuster Ready Player One. Almost 10 million BIGFOOT toys have been sold worldwide in the last decade, and 2019 saw its return to the Hot Wheels line with 3 versions debuting. 2019 also saw Bob Chandler’s induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame and BIGFOOT joining the hugely successful Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live tour. About Raycom-Legacy Content Company Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a large-scale event operation, promotion, content production, licensing and media firm. The company produces entertainment experiences including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™, an international Monster Truck tour visiting North America and Europe. Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a partnership between Raycom Sports – a leading independent sports marketing, event management and production firm – and Legacy Motorsports Events – which was co-founded by entertainment and motorsports executives Ken Hudgens, Tim Murray, Eric Cole and Bob Boggess. The company is based in Charlotte, N.C. About Mattel, Inc. Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price® and Thomas & Friends®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.
Meet the Schnells: Partners in Life, Competitors in Europe
WHO SAYS MONSTER TRUCKS AREN’T ROMANTIC? The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour is bringing its action-packed, immersive experience to Europe! In addition to the awesome spectacle of the motocross bikers, Megasaurus and the Crash Zone, at the heart of the tour will be a married couple that thrives on the BIG, BAD and BOLD lifestyle of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour. Meet Darron and Rebecca Schnell, the husband and wife team and drivers of BIGFOOT and Hot Wheels Racing #1. Darron and Rebecca are ready to take Europe by storm! How did the two of you meet? Rebecca: Darron and I met in North Carolina at a Tire Shop where he was on display for Firestone at a neighboring town from where I grew up. I was headed into work and saw his truck, the Legendary BIGFOOT, sitting on display, went over to take a look and rebelliously climbed inside! What is the best part about having your spouse with you on the job? Darron: The hardest part of this job is that you are always traveling. You miss birthdays, anniversaries and every other major event. When my wife is with me, the biggest downside of this job fades away. I always joke that if she is with me, I could care less when I go home! What excites you most about taking the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour to Europe? Darron: The best part of this job is the people. I’ve traveled all over North America and met lifelong friends. I’m so excited that we get to experience different cultures and meet great people and learn how other people live. Do you have any plans to do any sightseeing while you are on tour? If so, what are you most looking forward to? Rebecca: Absolutely!!!! I am very excited to see what the cities have to offer, especially through sightseeing and food! I’ve been searching blogs and the internet and keeping a list of places we plan to visit! Do you have a person in the sport, past or present, that you both really admire? Rebecca: This is a very difficult question to answer. Since being in the sport with Darron for 10 years, I have gotten to know and admire quite a few individuals. The ones that I must mention are, of course, Bob Chandler and Dan Runte. It means so much to me to have both guys offering advice and support for my driving career. Dan has been so patient in teaching me, calming my nerves and answering all my questions. Can you share one of your favorite experiences engaging with fans of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Tour? Rebecca: The Crash Zone!!! It’s the best! You are able to get up close and personal with the fans! Talk and converse with them on their favorite things about monster trucks and what they are excited to see. I love when they bring memorabilia in that they have collected. Darron: You really can’t boil this experience down to a single moment or moments. I can remember being the little kid walking up to drivers like they were larger than life. Now it is so surreal to be on the other side of that. To be considered a hero is a wild experience that has never gotten old. Darron you’ll be driving the legendary BIGFOOT for the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live European Tour, Rebecca, you’ll be in control of the exciting Hot Wheels Racing #1. Is there any loving smack you’d like to talk to each other right now? Rebecca: Absolutely but we are not as aggressive with it as you would think. Darron has 10 years under his belt and I am the rookie. As much as I want to kick his butt I have to be careful how much smack I’m handing out. We have talked about this many times and honestly as much as I’d like to win that Titan Cup, I already consider myself a winner simply because of the opportunity to drive, spend time with my husband and travel the world. It would be an added bonus to throw that cup up in the air for the fans! Darron: We aren’t smack talking now, but I see how fast my wife is learning. I’m gonna have my hands full with her before the tour is over. How fun is it to know you’re an inspiration to other couples that might want to get into motorsports together, and Rebecca how cool is it to be a role model demonstrating that monster trucks aren’t just for boys? Rebecca: It’s fun to know that people look at us as an inspiration, but we are quick to add that it is not all rainbows and butterflies. It takes a lot of work from both of us to make this successful. For anyone seeking advice on the success of our relationship, the most important thing I could share is to communicate your thoughts, feelings, desires and needs with one another. I most importantly want to show and add to the history in motorsports that women can work on AND drive these machines. I think it is very important to understand the physics of the trucks and the ability to pinpoint any problems that you may encounter.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Announces 2020 Tour
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Announces 2020 Tour Worldwide tour is back and BIGGER than before with an amazing and authentic Hot Wheels® monster trucks experience for the whole family in 2020! October 9, 2019: Charlotte, NC – Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™, a family entertainment tour that delivers an immersive experience for Monster Truck fans, has announced dates for its 2020 tour. In January, February, March and April, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live will perform in five new cities and will return to nine cities. New stops include Saint Charles, Missouri at the Family Arena and Corpus Christi, Texas at the American Bank Center. The tour will make its first visit to North Dakota at the Bismarck Events Center in Bismarck, BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Illinois and the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live also added dates to returning markets at Sear Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas, Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia and KFC YUM Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The tour will also be coming back to Albany, Georgia, Cleveland, Ohio, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Charlottesville, Virginia and Jackson, Mississippi. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live brings audiences the only opportunity to see real-life versions of the iconic Hot Wheels monster trucks toys including Bone Shaker™, Tiger Shark™, V8 Bomber™, Demo Derby and Hot Wheels® Racing 1. The show will also feature the original monster truck, BIGFOOT®. In addition, the tour will continue to hold the immensely popular Crash Zone Pre-Show Party 2 ½ hours prior to every performance. The event is free for ticket holders and allows fans to enter the competition floor before the show to gain exclusive access to their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks and drivers. Following is the full list of dates and locations for the 2020 tour: Saint Charles, Missouri Family Arena Saturday, January 4 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, January 5 at 1:30pm Edinburg, Texas Bert Ogden Arena Saturday, January 11 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, January 12 at 1:30pm Cleveland, Ohio Wolstein Center Saturday, January 18 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, January 19 at 1:30pm Jackson, Mississippi Mississippi Coliseum Saturday, January 25 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, January 26 at 1:30pm Corpus Christi, Texas American Bank Center Saturday, February 1 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Albany, Georgia Albany Civic Center Saturday, February 8 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Hoffman Estates, Illinois Sears Centre Saturday, February 15 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, February 16 at 1:30pm Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck Events Center Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm Saturday, February 22 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Rockford, Illinois BMO Harris Bank Center Saturday, February 29 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, March 1 at 1:30pm Louisville, Kentucky KFC YUM Center Saturday, March 14 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Norfolk, Virginia Scope Arena Saturday, March 28 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, March 29 at 1:30pm Charlottesville, Virginia John Paul Jones Arena Saturday, April 4 at 12:30pm Sunday, April 5 at 3:00pm Cape Girardeau, Missouri Show Me Center Friday, April 17 at 7:30pm Saturday, April 18 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, April 19 at 1:30pm State College, Pennsylvania Bryce Jordan Center Saturday, April 25 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm
Raycom-Legacy Content Company Announces Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Crushing It!
Raycom-Legacy Content Company Announces Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Crushing It! New six-episode television series provides a behind-the-scenes look at the epic Monster Truck tour July 15, 2019: Charlotte, NC – Raycom-Legacy Content Company is launching a new 30-minute television series called Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Crushing It! The new series will go behind-the-scenes at Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, the new worldwide tour featuring iconic jumps and stunts with epic crashing and smashing and Bigfoot® – the original Monster Truck. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Crushing It! is an unscripted, high-energy, all access look at the exhilarating world of Monster Trucks. Hosts Tommy Kane and Kristen Beat take viewers inside the world of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live to meet drivers, showcase trucks, engage with fans, and learn from the creators at Mattel about how they brought these awesome toys to life. “I’ve worked in the motorsports entertainment business for 25 years and this is the best Monster Truck television show ever produced,” said Ken Hudgens, President & CEO of Raycom-Legacy Content Company. “We’re giving our fans unprecedented access to a Monster Truck tour and giving them a look under the hood to see what makes these drivers and trucks so entertaining.” The 30-minute, six-episode series is produced by Raycom-Legacy Content Company and will air in nearly 100 markets from July 20th – October 31st. Episode summaries follow: 1: Take a look at the first Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live event and meet Bone Shaker, Tiger Shark, V8 Bomber™, Hot Wheels® Racing # 1, Demo Derby and Bigfoot – the original Monster Truck. 2: Mattel designers show what it takes to design a Hot Wheels Monster Truck Toy and viewers take a tour of the Hot Wheels garage. 3: Show host Tommy Kane learns how to drive Hot Wheels Racing #1 and maybe even crush a car. 4: Hang out with Demo Derby driver Derick Anson, FMX superstar Cody Elkins, and get a Backstage Pass to find out what goes into producing a Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live event. 5: Find out how the legendary Bigfoot was created with owner Bob Chandler, and get a sneak peek into the annual Bigfoot Open House. 6: Demo Derby visits Victory Junction, a camp for children with serious or chronic medical conditions, and Tommy Kane becomes a Super Fan at a Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live event. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live was launched earlier this year by Raycom-Legacy Content Company and Mattel, Inc. and delivers an exhilarating family entertainment experience for kids of all ages. The tour will stop in 24 markets this year and expand to Europe in 2020 under a new partnership with Live Nation. For more information on the new series and local television listings visit www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com/crushing-it. About Mattel Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends® and MEGA®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com. About Raycom-Legacy Content Company Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a large-scale event operation, promotion, content production, licensing and media firm. The company produces entertainment experiences including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™, an international Monster Truck tour visiting North America and Europe. Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a partnership between Raycom Sports – a leading independent sports marketing, event management and production firm – and Legacy Motorsports Events – which was co-founded by entertainment and motorsports executives Ken Hudgens, Tim Murray, Eric Cole and Bob Boggess. The company is based in Charlotte, N.C. *Hot Wheels Basic Cars Assortment is the number one selling toy in the world based on units sold according to NPD
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE 2020 EUROPEAN TOUR
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE 2020 EUROPEAN TOUR Tour Launches Friday, 3rd January 2020 Tickets on Sale Friday, 5th July July 1, 2019: London, UK – Live Nation and Raycom-Legacy Content Company is partnering with Hot Wheels® to launch HOT WHEELS™ MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE, a new European tour that will create an immersive experience for Monster Truck fans. This new live entertainment tour will visit European arenas beginning on Friday, January 3 in Manchester, UK at the Manchester Arena and will run through Saturday, February 8 in Glasgow, UK at The SSE Hydro. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, 5 July. See below for a full listing of tour dates. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live will bring everyone’s favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life, combining Hot Wheels’ iconic jumps and stunts with epic crashing and smashing to deliver an exhilarating family entertainment experience for kids of all ages. In addition to the Trucks, each show will feature specialty acts like the superstars of freestyle motocross, world record attempts, and Megasaurus – the massive, car-eating, fire-breathing prehistoric robot who loves chomping on anything with four wheels. Offering unrivaled entertainment value for Monster Truck fans, each event will feature affordable ticket prices, the Crash Zone Pre-Show Party with Monster Truck photo opportunities, driver meet-and-greets, VIP autograph sessions, and other special prizes and promotions. The first stop of the tour will be January 3rd and 4th in Manchester at the Manchester Arena, UK and the tour will travel to 4 cities across Europe. Scheduled stops include Manchester, Lodz, Copenhagen, Birmingham and Glasgow with early show options available on select dates. Conceived in 1968 by an innovator, a rocket scientist and a car designer, Hot Wheels 1:64 scale die-cast cars were designed to look awesome and perform. Five decades later, Hot Wheels is the number one selling toy in the world* with more than 16.5 cars sold every second. The brand has evolved from a simple, yet beloved, toy car with orange track system into a global franchise powerhouse that offers fans of all ages multi-channel play experiences. “Mattel is always exploring new and innovative ways for fans of all ages to play and engage with our portfolio of iconic brands,” said Julie Freeland, Senior Director of Mattel Global Live Events & Attractions. “We are delighted to tour the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live experience in Europe and to bring our fans into the real-life action in an arena.” Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a world-class event operation, promotion, television production, licensing, media and public relations firm. The company is a partnership between Raycom Sports – a leader in sports marketing, event management and production – and Legacy Motorsports Events – led by executives with unrivaled experience operating large-scale entertainment tours. “We’ve experienced unprecedented success in our first year delivering Hot Wheel Monster Trucks Live to fans in North America and we’re excited to expand to Europe under this new partnership with Live Nation,” said Ken Hudgens, President & CEO of Raycom-Legacy Content Company. “ We look forward to immersing a new group of international fans in our authentic Hot Wheels experience and providing them unmatched entertainment.” Senior Vice President Touring, International Music, Live Nation, Tim McWilliams said: “As the world’s largest live-entertainment company, we’ve been part of many incredible shows, but we are especially thrilled to be working on Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, which combines a thrilling family orientated spectacle with the iconic Hot Wheels brand.” HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE 2020 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES: January 2020 Fri 03 Manchester, UK Manchester Arena Sat 04 Manchester, UK Manchester Arena** Fri 10 Lodz, PL Atlas Arena Sat 11 Lodz, PL Atlas Arena** Sun 12 Lodz, PL Atlas Arena** Fri 17 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena** Sat 18 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena** Sun 19 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena** February 2020 Fri 31 Birmingham, UK Birmingham Arena Sat 01 Birmingham, UK Birmingham Arena** Sun 02 Birmingham, UK Birmingham Arena Fri 07 Glasgow, UK The SSE Hydro Sat 08 Glasgow, UK The SSE Hydro** Sun 09 Glasgow, UK The SSE Hydro** Visit www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com for more information. *Hot Wheels Basic Cars Assortment is the number one selling toy in the world based on unitssold according to NPD ** Early shows available on these dates, please check local show listings. About Live Nation Entertainment Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com. About Raycom-Legacy Content Company Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a large-scale event operation, promotion, content production, licensing and media firm. The company produces entertainment experiences including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™, an international Monster Truck tour visiting North America and Europe. Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a partnership between Raycom Sports – a leading independent sports marketing, event management and production firm – and Legacy Motorsports Events – which was co-founded by entertainment and motorsports executives Ken Hudgens, Tim Murray, Eric Cole and Bob Boggess. The company is based in Charlotte, N.C. About Mattel Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE™ TOUR KICKS OFF IN EUROPE
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE™ TOUR KICKS OFF IN EUROPE First leg of European Tour including UK, Poland and Denmark will launch Friday, 3 January 2020 with tickets on sale this week Live Nation and Raycom-Legacy Content Company (RLCC) are official partners LONDON, UK., 1 July 2019 – Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) today announced that Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ is expanding to Europe in partnership with Live Nation and Raycom-Legacy Content Company (RLCC). Following its successful launch in the U.S. earlier this year, the show is, for the first time, touring Europe starting in the UK, Poland and Denmark in 2020 with more markets planned for a later roll-out. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live creates an immersive experience for Monster Truck fans. This is the first time the live show based on the number #1 selling toy has been released in Europe and demonstrates the expansion and strength of the brand worldwide. This new live entertainment tour will bring everyone’s favorite Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks to life, combining Hot Wheels’ iconic jumps and stunts with epic crashing and smashing to deliver an exhilarating family entertainment experience for kids of all ages. In addition to the Trucks, each show will feature specialty acts like the superstars of freestyle motocross, world record attempts, and Megasaurus—the massive, car-eating, fire-breathing prehistoric robot who loves chomping on anything with four wheels. “Mattel is thrilled to share the U.S. success of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live experience with our European fans,” said Julie Freeland, Senior Director of Mattel Global Live Events & Attractions. “Mattel is always exploring new and innovative ways for fans of all ages to play and engage with our storied brands. We’re fulfilling European consumer demand by bringing them real-life action in an arena with the best-selling Hot Wheels Monster Trucks.” “We’ve experienced unprecedented success in our first year delivering Hot Wheel Monster Trucks Live to fans in North America and we’re excited to expand to Europe under this new partnership with Live Nation,” said Ken Hudgens, President & CEO of Raycom-Legacy Content Company. “We look forward to immersing a new group of international fans in our authentic Hot Wheels experience and providing them unmatched entertainment.” Senior Vice President Touring, International Music, Live Nation, Tim McWilliams said: “As the world’s largest live-entertainment company, we’ve been part of many incredible shows, but we are especially thrilled to be working on Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, which combines a thrilling family orientated spectacle with the iconic Hot Wheels brand.” Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live will visit European arenas beginning on Friday, 3 January in Manchester, UK at the Manchester Arena and will run through Sunday, 9 February in Glasgow, UK at The SSE Hydro. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, 5 July. The tour will travel to multiple cities across Europe, with scheduled stops including Manchester, Lodz, Birmingham and Glasgow. Further show information for Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live in Denmark will be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale Friday 5th July via www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com. About Mattel Mattel is a leading global children’s entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends® and MEGA®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com. About Live Nation Entertainment Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com. About Raycom-Legacy Content Company Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a large-scale event operation, promotion, content production, licensing and media firm. The company produces entertainment experiences including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™, an international Monster Truck tour visiting North America and Europe. Raycom-Legacy Content Company is a partnership between Raycom Sports – a leading independent sports marketing, event management and production firm – and Legacy Motorsports Events – which was co-founded by entertainment and motorsports executives Ken Hudgens, Tim Murray, Eric Cole and Bob Boggess. The company is based in Charlotte, N.C. *Hot Wheels Basic Cars Assortment is the number one selling toy in the world based on units sold according to NPD
New Cities and Dates Added To 2019 Tour!
Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live Adds Cities, Dates to 2019 Tour Additional 21 shows include stops in New Orleans, San Diego and Fort Worth May 3, 2019: Charlotte, NC – Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live, a new nationwide tour that creates an immersive experience for Monster Truck fans, has added new cities and dates to its inaugural tour. In the second half of 2019, Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live will perform 21 additional shows in nine new cities highlighted by New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Diego and Fort Worth. New stops include two venues that have never hosted a monster truck event of any kind – the AT&T Center in San Antonio and Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans – as well a visit to Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, marking the tour’s first stop in Canada. The tour will make its first visit to Southern California at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego and Citizens Business Bank Arena outside of Los Angeles. Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live also added dates at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, the Times Union Center in Albany, NY, and the Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI. The final announced additional stop of 2019 is the brand-new Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. In addition to the new dates, the tour also announced it will expand its immensely popular Hot Wheels Crash Zone Pre-Show Party by holding it prior to every performance. The event is free for ticket holders and allows fans to enter the competition floor before the show to gain exclusive access to their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks and drivers. Following is the full list of dates added to the 2019 tour. Tickets are on sale now for all tour stops. Visit www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com for more information and a full schedule. San Antonio, TX AT&T Center Saturday, July 27 at 1:30pm Sunday, July 28 at 1:30pm Winnipeg, Canada Bell MTS Place Saturday, August 24 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, August 25 at 12:30pm Ontario, CA Citizens Business Bank Arena Saturday, September 7 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Madison, WI Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center Saturday, September 14 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena Saturday, September 21 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Albany, NY Times Union Center Saturday, October 19 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center Saturday, November 2 at 1:30pm Sunday, November 3 at 1:30pm San Diego, CA Pechanga Arena Saturday, November 9 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday, November 10 at 12:30pm Ft. Worth, TX Dickies Arena Friday, November 15 at 7:30pm Saturday, November 16 at 12:30pm and 7:30pm About Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live brings everyone’s favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life, combining Hot Wheels’ iconic jumps and stunts with epic crashing and smashing to deliver an exhilarating family entertainment experience for kids of all ages. In addition to the Trucks, each show will feature specialty acts like the superstars of freestyle motocross, world record attempts, and Megasaurus – the massive, car-eating, fire-breathing prehistoric robot who loves chomping on anything with four wheels – as it makes its Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live debut. The tour is owned and operated by Raycom-Legacy Content Company and based in Charlotte, N.C.
The Voice(s) of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
The Dynamic Duo That Man the Mics What’s the ideal complement to the awesome automotive power of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live? A pair of energetic announcers who have a passion for Hot Wheels and always bring the energy to the arena. Meet Ken Navitsky and Freddie Sheppard, the dynamic duo that man the mics on the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour and exceed every awesome quality you could want out of pair of professional emcees. Ken Navitsky Hailing from Sarasota, Florida, Ken was a standout athlete who earned All-American awards in both football and soccer at Minnesota State. He might have started his career in sales, but after his brother-in-law gave his family tickets to a motorsports show, he was hooked and felt the pull to start his own live event company. When he’s not bringing fans to their feet with his energetic calls, Ken is a proud husband and father who loves spending time with his wife Kelly and his two children. Ken couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour and believes all involved with the tour are part of a team that is committed to making Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live the best live motorsports show available. What is Ken’s favorite part of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live? The reaction of the fans to seeing these amazing performers and trucks do their thing. We hopefully give the family a chance to let go of their worries for a few hours and just have fun! What is Ken’s favorite truck and why? It’s great when you have BIGFOOT in the house! But truth be told, all of the trucks are all kinds of AWESOME! Has there been a special moment on tour you would like to share? Seeing a fan hug Freddie in the autograph line because of the reaction her autistic son had to him in the stands. That is without question the best part of our job. Freddie Sheppard Born on a walnut farm in Northern California, it wasn’t long before Freddie caught motorsports fever and moved to Southern California hoping to nurture this love and do some riding himself and maybe travel the world. Freddie’s passion for motorsports metal art has led to exciting adventures around the world with teams from NBC, FOX, the Dew Tour, Gatorade, Nike and many more. Freddie’s family is the center of his world. He’s been married to his wife Angie for 20 years and has four kids he describes as “absolutely awesome.” Currently Freddie is on tour with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live and “Livin’ the DREAM!!!” What is Freddie’s favorite part of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live? That Hot Wheels set out to assemble an ALL-STAR team of drivers, riders, announcers, crew and management to deliver the “evolution of monster trucks” to the world! Challenge Accepted! What is Freddie’s favorite truck and why? “I’m torn between two trucks: Bone Shaker due to my love of metal art and rat rods, and V-8 Bomber – simply old-school American steel.” Has there been a special moment on tour you would like to share? When Bone Shaker finally got his first win four weeks into the season, and I could hear the raw emotion in Kenny’s voice during the winning interview! To see all the other drivers huggin’ and high fivin’ Cody is when I realized I was part of something great! With enthusiastic announcers like this calling the action, it’s no wonder the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour is the BIGGEST, BADDEST and BOLDEST motorsports experience around. It’s evident Ken and Freddie love what they do. They enjoy getting the opportunity to be so close to this awesome event and interact with fans and drivers alike. Ken and Freddie truly embody the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour’s call to action, “GO BIG, GO HOT WHEELS!”
He is Megasaurus, Hear Him Roar!
A Special Note from Megasaurus Hi, my name is Megasaurus, and I can’t stop eating cars. You heard that right, I eat cars. Lots of ‘em. It doesn’t matter if they are 2-door, 4-door or even more door. I eat ‘em with their tires and wheels still attached and their engines still in place, but one thing I won’t try is their gas tanks and batteries. Megasaurus ain’t tryin’ to catch battery acid reflux. I eat cars. And I love it. Whew. It feels good to get that off of my robust metal chest. Now that I’ve given you the basics, let me tell you a little bit more about myself. I stand three stories tall and for now I weigh over 50,000 lbs., but I’m workin’ on that. My blood pressure is 2,500 lbs. per square inch, which my mechanic assures me is completely within the normal range, and I have over 800 feet of veins and arteries. That might be a bit of an overshare, but it’s the truth. I have 15,000 lbs. of crushing force in each claw and 18,000 lbs. of biting force and can lift 30,000 lbs. And did you know when I’m really hungry, I’ve been known to eat boats, airplanes and even houses? What are my favorite foods? I’d have to say Dodge Omnis and Plymouth Horizons are my all-time favorites. They’re what I turn to the most to satisfy a powerful Megasaurus craving. After that it’s probably Ford Escorts. They’re simple, delicious and have no aftertaste. Chevy Cavaliers are good if I just want a no-frills snack. I have to admit I like the occasional Chevy Citation even though they give me gas. I’ll munch on the occasional Honda if I’m craving exotic seafood (they have a fishy taste), and I will eat Toyotas if I need a greasy fix. I’m probably the only one who wishes Guy Fieri would make the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives about the cars in the parking lots of those places. Talk about Flavor Country! Did I mention I spit straight fire? That’s not a brag about my rapping skills. I mean I spit literal fire. Just part of what makes me Megasaurus. My breath contains over 200,000 BTUs of burning power, and it spells certain doom for all vehicles in my path. I can flame broil my own meal without even using a grill. Ok, I’ve said my piece. I could go on all day about my car-chomping prowess, but it’s better that you see it with your own eyes on the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live tour! I’m beyond honored to team up with the awesome monster trucks and the thrilling FMX racers to bring explosive entertainment to the entire family. I love to thrill fans as they watch me indulge my massive appetite. People can’t help but marvel at my enormous size and my scorching fire breath. I look forward to seeing all of the fans come out to the show and watch me devour the smorgasbord of twisted metal laid out before me. Some might think it’s too much for any one prehistoric automobile chomper to consume. To those skeptics I proudly say, “Challenge Accepted.” My appetite is endless and so are the possibilities when fans attend the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live tour. GO BIG, GO HOT WHEELS! Yours in Awesomeness, Megasaurus