The fans have spoken, and they want both competitors. Between the online voting and the text voting, more than 16,000 votes were submitted to name the Jaguars' new stadium public address announcer, and the team is standing united with the fans' vote. With extremely tight voting, both candidates have been invited to be in the booth for Jaguars home games.
Kevin Peffer, the Jacksonville native, will handle pregame duties, and Anthony Bellino, a native of Monroe, Mich., will handle the rest of the PA duties on game days. This will begin Friday night in the Jaguars' preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.
"We were very happy with the quality of the candidates, and equally pleased with the fans' response to this competition," Jaguars President Mark Lamping said. "And having two stadium announcers allows us to have fresh voices for the pregame festivities as well as for the game. We believe their addition will add to the fans' enjoyment on game day at EverBank Field."
Bellino is a graduate of Bowling Green State University. He currently serves as the PA announcer for the University of Toledo, the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA affiliate of MLB's Detroit Tigers) and the Toledo Walleye (ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.) Bellino is also an announcer for the University of Michigan's athletic department and serves as a radio personality on CBS Sports Radio's 106.5 FM The Ticket in Toledo, Ohio.
Peffer is a member of the Bold City Brigade and is affiliated with the Teal Street Hooligans. He is a lifelong Jacksonville resident who still has the t-shirt his mother bought him when Jacksonville was awarded the team November 30, 1993. And he claims it still fits. Peffer graduated from Sandalwood High School in 2001 and enlisted in the Army immediately after high school. He was in basic training during the September 11 attacks that year, and upon completion of his training he was stationed in Vicenza, Italy with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Peffer was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in March of 2003 until leaving Iraq in late February, 2004.
After leaving the military Peffer returned to Jacksonville and attended FCCJ and the University of North Florida, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications. His passion has always been radio and broadcasting, and he enjoyed the opportunity to work with WOKV radio after graduation. Peffer has been attending Jaguars games since the 1995 season, but he became a full-time attendee in 2009 and a Jaguars season ticket holder in 2010.
The Jaguars would like to thank all of those who voted. This was a unique competition for professional sports, and shows the close relationship the Jaguars and the Jacksonville community have with one another.
