By Tim Simmons

In the vast, cathedral-like expanse of a modern sports stadium, an unsung maestro commands the attention of tens of thousands without ever throwing a pitch, catching a pass, or lacing up cleats. It’s the voice. That resonant, baritone pulse rolling over the loudspeakers that turns a game into an event and a collection of athletes into hometown heroes.

Across the Centennial State, sports fans know that signature delivery well. But behind two of the most recognizable microphones in local athletics are brothers bound by blood, a passion for competition, and a unique talent for vocal projection: Reed and Lee Saunders.

Products of Colorado’s higher education landscape, the Saunders brothers have built parallel legacies, giving life, excitement, and authority to game days from the mountain front range to the Steel City.

A Deep-Rooted Colorado Lineage

Long before Reed and Lee were commanding stadium crowds, the Saunders name was already leaving an imprint on the state’s athletic heritage. Their family tree boasts deep ties to the University of Colorado athletics lore:

• Grandfather Harold Saunders starred for the Buffaloes in the late 1930s in football, basketball, and golf and was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame in 2024.

• Uncle Norm Saunders followed in those athletic footsteps decades later, carving out his own stellar career as a CU standout in the mid-1960s, where he lettered in basketball and golf.

Meanwhile, their father, Steve Saunders, a Colorado State graduate, built a successful professional path away from the field, dedicating over two decades of loyal service to the iconic Coors Brewing Company.

Surrounded by a family culture defined by hard work, community pride, and a deep appreciation for sports, it seemed only natural that Reed and Lee would find their calling under the stadium lights.

Reed Saunders: The Voice of Coors Field

For baseball fans walking through the turnstiles at LoDo’s Coors Field, the game doesn’t officially begin until that familiar, crystal-clear cadence echoes through the concourses: “Now batting for the Colorado Rockies…”

Since 2007, Reed Saunders has held down one of the most prestigious microphone gigs in professional sports as the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies. Dubbed the “Voice of Coors Field”, Reed brings a steady, professional gravitas that anchors the rhythm of a grueling 162-game Major League Baseball season.

A proud graduate of Colorado State University in Fort Collins (Class of 2003), Reed’s voice has commanded attention beyond the diamond. For two decades, he also served as the iconic voice of the Colorado Eagles professional hockey team from their inception in 2003 until his retirement from the hockey gig in 2023, helping soundtrack some of the most raucous nights in minor league hockey history. When he isn’t stepping up to the mic to welcome tens of thousands of baseball fans, Reed applies that same communicative craft professionally as a Senior Account Executive for OUTFRONT.

Lee Saunders: Electrifying the ThunderBowl

Down on the southern end of the state, the tradition of elite stadium sound rings just as true. At Colorado State University Pueblo—where campus pride runs deep and fall Saturday afternoons belong to ThunderWolves football—Lee Saunders dials up the game-day atmosphere.

A graduate of Western Colorado University, Lee brings a commanding, energetic presence to the microphone for CSU Pueblo athletics. Balancing his deep-rooted commitment to higher education, student success, and enrollment leadership on campus, Lee steps into the PA booth with the theatrical timing and infectious enthusiasm that gets thousands of Pack fans on their feet. Whether he’s orchestrating a crucial third-down roar or celebrating a ThunderWolves touchdown, Lee understands that a great PA announcer doesn’t just read names—they conduct the crowd’s collective heartbeat.

A Shared Frequency

It is no small feat for two brothers to carve out elite-tier careers in the hyper-competitive world of public address announcing. To do it across different levels—from Major League Baseball’s grand stage in downtown Denver to the fierce collegiate gridirons of Southern Colorado—is a testament to timing, tone, and a lifelong appreciation for sports culture.

Rooted in the educational bedrock of Colorado universities and perfected over decades behind the panel, Reed and Lee Saunders prove that while players come and go, a truly great voice is timeless.

So the next time you hear the sharp crack of a bat echoing off the Rockies’ home turf, or the earth-shaking rumble of a Pack kickoff down in Pueblo, listen closely. You’re hearing a family legacy, delivered with a booming voice and a whole lot of Colorado pride.