Wilson Sports going big in Ada, breaking ground on expanded football production facility
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Wilson Sporting Goods is going big in Ada, celebrating the groundbreaking of its expanded factory. The official ball supplier of both the NFL and NBA will deepen its roots with a new facility more than double in size of the current plant.
Wilson handcrafts every genuine leather NFL football from its football factory. The facility is also home to product testing, ball customization and Wilson’s game-ready product break-in process for both the football and basketball categories.
The expansion was essential according to Kevin Murphy, the GM of Wilson Team Sports who told ABC-6, "We are selling more balls than we can make."
Plant manager/engineer Andy Wentling said the plant employs 156 workers and will add 20-30 employees over the next three years. Wentling has been the driving force for the expansion and said he battled through many rejections before getting the facility approved.
The brand’s expanded footprint in Ada is expected to open in 2024.
Wilson is adding a retail souvenir shop to the new facility as well. The plant in Ada has been producing the official NFL ball for 80 years. They will be adding the NBA basketball, volleyball and soccer balls.
