About the Program

The 2018-2019 season marked the first year of Steve’s “Future Voices of the Booth” program, which brought broadcasting students of all ages to Pittsburgh Penguins home games. At select games throughout the year, they had the chance to attend a game and then get a “behind the scenes” tour of the broadcast location at PPG Paints Arena. After a short pause for health and safety reasons, we’re proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2022-2023 Penguins season. If you’re a broadcasting/communications student of any age and are interested in the program, please fill out the application through the link below. Thank you to everyone who has applied and shared their passion for a career in sports broadcasting.

What is Future Voices of the Booth?

Future Voices of the Booth is a program to encourage, motivate, and mentor students working hard towards future careers as sports broadcasters. Sports broadcasting is a very competitive career to get into and takes a lot of hard work to make it to the top. Steve Mears, the play-by-play voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, started this program to help guide students who are in the same position he was.

Future Voices of the Booth looks for current students and recent graduates who are actively working towards a future in sports broadcasting. Students who are selected will be receive 2 tickets to a home Pittsburgh Penguins game. After the game, Steve Mears will show them around his own broadcasting booth, give them advice, and talk to them about their future career.

If you are a current student, or recent graduate, fill out an application and tell us about your dedication and your future goals!

Steve Mears

Play-by-Play Announcer of the Pittsburgh Penguins

About Steve

Steve Mears has been the play-by-play broadcaster of the Penguins on AT&T SportsNet since the beginning of the 2017-2018 season. Prior to this, he spent five seasons with NHL Network, which included serving as host of NHL Live, NHL NOW and as play-by-play announcer for the World Junior Hockey Championship and NHL International. As the voice of NHL International, Mears has called numerous outdoor NHL games, All-Star Games, and the Stanley Cup Final since 2016. While living in New York City, he also broadcast games for the New York Rangers and was a host on the MSG Radio Network.

Prior to his time at NHL Network, Mears spent three years as a host on the Penguins Radio Network and PensTV, including the final season at the Civic Arena. From 2006 to 2009, he also served as the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the New York Islanders, his first job in the NHL.

Read More

•••

Future Voices of the Booth

The 2018-2019 season marked the first year of Steve’s “Future Voices of the Booth” program, which brought broadcasting students of all ages to Pittsburgh Penguins home games. At select games throughout the year, they had the chance to attend a game and then get a “behind the scenes” tour of the broadcast location at PPG Paints Arena. After a brief pause for health and safety reasons, we are extremely excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2022-2023 Penguins season. If you’re a broadcasting/communications student of any age and are interested in the program, please fill out the application through the link below. Thank you to everyone who has applied and shared their passion for a career in sports broadcasting.

About Future Voices of the Booth Apply to the Program

"People often ask me what advice I’d give to young broadcasters hoping to break into the business. My answer to that one is always the same: Be nice to people."

Steve Mears

About Steve

•••

Future Voices of the Booth

-Mike Lange, Riding the Bus with Jagr, The Players’ Tribune, April 7th 2017