Fourteen lucky Wilson's Sporting Goods employees had their own Super Bowl party on Sunday night that lasted into the wee hours of Monday.
According to Andy Wentling, plant manager, the “super” crew worked into the early morning hours at the Ada facility to create the official 2021 Super Bowl footballs.
“We had dies for the four teams in Sunday’s playoff games ready to use,” he said. “By 10:30 p.m., as soon as the games were over and the winners were determined our crew went to work.”
The crew worked until around 4 a.m. as they created the football bladders for 216 games balls plus 12 kicking balls.
Then, at 6 a.m. on Monday, the regular staff clocked in and put the balls together and in the final touch, laced them up and sent them on their journeys to Kansas City and Tampa.
“Each team received 108 balls, plus the kicking balls on Tuesday,” said Wentling.
Now Wilson employees can sit back and enjoy their work by watching Super Bowl LV on television.
The game is at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7, in Tampa Bay.
Every football created for 55 Super Bowls have been made in the Wilson plant in Ada.
