With the Two Most Famous Words in Sports, Woodsy Returns

Just like predecessors Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Brett Favre and a very select group of others, Steven Woods, aka “Woodsy,” the longtime arena announcer for your San Diego Seals, uttered the two most famous words in sports this morning – “I’m back.”

Yes you heard that right, Woodsy will be returning to the mic this season, the Seals’ first at North County San Diego’s Frontwave Arena.

"Honestly when Mike (Grace) from the Seals called and asked me to come back, it only took me about 30 seconds to say yes,” said an ecstatic Woods. “The whole family is on board. We are Seals fans through and through, and it works out perfectly with our schedule, so yes, the rumors are true .... I'm coming home."

Citing personal reasons, Woods stepped away last season and was replaced by NBC’s Derek Togerson, who was phenomenal in his stead.

“We’re beyond thrilled that Woodsy’s coming back,” said Grace, the Seals’ vice president of game presentation. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to Derek Togerson though. Derek came in last season with big shoes to fill and did an excellent job bringing tons of energy to The Electric Factory. We were lucky to have him.

“But when Derek decided to step aside for the coming season, we knew we had to bring back Woodsy back since the Seals were moving to his neck of the woods.”

Woods had been the team’s only in-game arena announcer since its inception in 2018, but he announced in April 2025 that he would be laying down his mic at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Togerson was selected among a large contingent of applicants who applied for and auditioned for the job.

Pechanga Arena, the Seals former home, was dubbed The Electric Factory and the team is planning to bring that same energy to Frontwave Arena, a job that just became much easier with those two words.

Woods will make his official Electric Factory return at the Seals’ home opener against the Oshawa FireWolves on Dec. 19. Tickets for that game, along with season tickets, are currently on sale at sealslax.com and frontwavearena.com.