ADA, Ohio (WXIN) — Every big NFL moment has to start somewhere — and for the NFL’s game balls, that somewhere is Ada, Ohio.
The town, home to Ohio Northern University, is located in Ohio’s Hardin County. The 2020 census listed its population at a little more than 5,300 people.
Ada has served as home to a Wilson Sporting Goods plant for nearly seven decades, manufacturing footballs since 1955. Wilson’s website said the facility produces more than 700,000 handmade footballs a year.
“We’re three blocks off of Main Street. We’re in Ada, Ohio. Nobody knows we’re here. We get the lights on, and we’re making Super Bowl balls. We’re the only ones who can do it,” said plant manager Andy Wentling.
While Ada makes footballs every day, there’s something even more special about producing the pigskin for the NFL’s biggest game.
“December gets here, January gets here, you get excited again,” Wentling said. “It does get you excited again, making all these footballs, getting in this phase, and saying, ‘Bang, we’re back doing it again.’ So, it’s pretty cool.”
The process includes five steps: cutting, sewing, turning, lacing and molding.
While the balls have been made at the same plant since 1955, operations will soon shift to a brand-new, start-of-the-art facility.
“There’s a ton of history here, we get that,” Wentling said. “It’s time for us to move as we grow and develop new processes, to give our employees that space and then also the guests. You’ll be able to come into the lobby, visit our retail space and buy a football, buy some Wilson gear and get a tour.”
The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs have each been given 108 footballs for this year’s Super Bowl — with 54 reserved for practice and the other 54 meant for gameday.