Making the Super Bowl XLIX footballs
Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio has been making the official Super Bowl football since the first Super Bowl in 1966. They began making the this year’s game balls last Sunday night, Jan. 18, immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. The New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, in Glendale, Ariz. – Associated Press
- An official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX is lined up to have the team names’ stamped on it at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Michelle Burkett gathers up panels she just cut for an official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Panels of the official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX are stacked up before being assembled at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Doris Kast tosses an official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX into a bin after it is removed from a molding press at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Heather Wireman laces up an official game ball for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Heather Wireman laces up an official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Official game balls for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX wait to be laced at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Barb Harnishfeger inspects an official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX before it is shipped out at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Heather Wireman laces up an official game ball for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- An official game ball for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX is photographed, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio. The company, which has made the official Super Bowl football since the first Super Bowl in 1966, began making the this year’s game balls last Sunday night, Jan. 18, immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. The New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Official game balls for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX sit in a bin before being laced and inflated at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Heather Wireman laces up an official game ball for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Official game balls for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX wait for final assembly at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- An official game ball for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX after the team names have been stamped on it at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Michelle Burkett cuts panels for an official game ball for the NFL football Super Bowl XLIX at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
- Doris Kast places an official game ball for NFL football’s Super Bowl XLIX in a molding press for the final shaping at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in Ada, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)