(June 16, 2015) STAA Member Andy McNamara is about to join a football team with nearly 150 years of history. McNamara has been named the new TSN Radio Voice of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
The position is a perfect fit for McNamara’s football passion. “I’ve had CFL podcasts on national broadcasters CBC and TSN for several years and was a sideline reporter for the league the last couple of seasons so I’m very excited for this next step,” McNamara says. “I love working with a passionate fan base and first class organizations and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are certainly that.”
The Toronto based McNamara has been working both radio and television for TSN since 2013. He was offered the opportunity to take up the mic for the Ti-Cats when TSN bought out a station in Hamilton and acquired the franchise broadcasting rights.
McNamara has created many of his own sportscasting opportunities by practicing a long-term networking strategy.
“I find that the key is continuously networking and finding out who the decision makers are in markets where you want to work. It’s a long haul. On several of my opportunities I kept in touch via email and phone with the same contact for four or five years before something came up. In the mean time I kept improving, getting more experience and updating contacts with what I’ve been up to.”
McNamara’s ten years in sportscasting has provided play-by-play opportunities in a variety of sports and locales, taking him as far as the Czech Republic. The crucial factor to earning such a diverse array of experiences? Never saying no.
“Getting reps and demo material is the key so my advice would be to work wherever there is an opportunity. Local college, community TV, wherever, but try to get as much experience in as many sports and situations as possible. At times, the best ability is availability so never turn down a chance to try something new.
“Following that format has allowed me to cover world lacrosse tournaments in Prague, Czech Republic, to college and professional league games in just about every sport.”
(Visit Andys STAA Talent Page).