NIU’s Convocation Center will be roaring this weekend and it won’t be because of a basketball game.

The Convo Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway, will host the Rolling Thunder Monster Truck Challenge Friday and Saturday.

The event, the only monster truck rally of its kind in a 300-mile radius, will feature 14-foot high monster trucks jumping over old cars and free style motocross jumping.

The Convo Center will be filled with the dirt that remains from the original construction of the building as well as 15 junk cars from a local towing agency.

Joe Coots, director of marketing and corporate sales for the Convo Center, is excited to see something different take the floor.

Coots said that the ticket sales are good, but expects a majority to be from walk-ups. He added 4,500 seats had to be pushed back because of the size of the monster trucks.

“Whenever you bring something like this that you usually don’t see on a college campus, it’s going to be a great time,” Coots said. “It’s exciting for everyone – students, young and old and members of the community.”

Coots said the monster trucks will arrive on semi trucks and have regular-size tires on them, allowing the trucks to be driven into the building. Inside, the tires will be exchanged for big wheels.

Tickets still are available for the Rolling Thunder Monster Truck Challenge this weekend through the Convo Center ticket office.