Extension of longstanding partnership
will build upon innovative product, upgraded facilities and global
growth of the game through NFL Flag
NEW
YORK and CHICAGO,
June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sporting Goods
Co. and the National Football League announced today the
renewal of their historic partnership, naming Wilson again as the official football of the
league. Since 1941, every point in the NFL has been scored with a
Wilson® Football, making this one of the longest partnerships in
sports history. As part of the multi-year extension, Wilson will unveil a brand-new football
factory in Ohio, as well as become
the official football of NFL Flag programs internationally,
continuing the brands' joint mission of growing the game across
various demographics and countries.
"Wilson and the NFL are one of
the most iconic relationships in sports, dating back over 80
years," said Kevin Murphy, global
general manager of Team Sports at Wilson. "Since then, Wilson has been part of every snap, pass and
touchdown in NFL history. We are thrilled to build upon this
partnership as we continue to work with the league on growing the
game globally and open opportunities for everyone to be part of the
sport."
Every Wilson NFL game Football, dubbed "The Duke," has been handcrafted at Wilson's facilities in Ada, Ohio through a 20-step process.
Wilson's football factory is the
world's oldest factory dedicated to producing only game-ready
genuine leather footballs. Today, Wilson debuted their new and improved football
factory, nearly doubling the capacity of the previous plant. This
new space gives the true craftsmen and craftswomen in Ada – who make each football by hand – more
space to continue their game-changing work, as well as the
opportunity for Wilson to continue
innovating, designing and offering the top product in sport.
"The NFL's time-honored partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods
Co. is integral to our past, present and future, with 'The
Duke' at the forefront of every NFL
game played since 1941," said Ryan
Samuelson, vice president of consumer products at the NFL.
"Renewing and expanding our relationship with a partner so
ingrained into our culture is paramount for the league to continue
to grow the game and the opening of the new football factory is a
testament to Wilson's commitment
to NFL football."
The factory generates best-in-class products from youth to pro,
making game footballs for the NFL season, including every Super
Bowl and Pro Bowl, as well as youth, high school and college play.
The new space includes a football museum that celebrates iconic
Wilson and NFL moments, as well as
a pop-up shop and manufacturing tours. Tours can be reserved online
starting in July with a percentage of ticket proceeds being donated
to youth sport groups in the greater area. The upgraded facility is
also home to product testing, ball customization and Wilson's game-ready product break-in
process.
To celebrate this milestone partnership extension and factory
expansion, Wilson and the NFL will
bring together greats across the global football ecosystem at their
new factory, including Cleveland
Browns running back Jerome
Ford, former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jordan Palmer, NFL Flag Football Ambassador and
Mexico National Flag Football Player Diana Flores, Heisman Trophy
winner Troy Smith, former Ohio State
quarterback Cardale Jones and former
Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn
Jr. The grand opening celebrations will conclude with a
youth flag football camp hosted by Smith, Ginn, Palmer and
Flores.
Wilson will also become the
official football of NFL Flag programming around the world. NFL
Flag, the official flag football program of the NFL, brings the
non-contact version of football to young athletes and is across 12
markets globally. Fast, highly accessible and inclusive for all,
flag football is spearheading extraordinary growth in participation
— played by over 20 million people across 100 countries, with women
and girls driving some of the sport's fastest growth. In
collaboration with the International Federation of American
Football (IFAF), the NFL is investing in the development and growth
of flag football at grassroots and elite levels across the
world.
For more information, please visit wilson.com and follow
along @wilson.
About Wilson
Chicago, USA-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co. is the
world's leading manufacturer of high-performance sports equipment,
apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company brings more than a
century of innovation and heritage to the world of sport –
celebrating the iconic moments made possible by Wilson across Racquet Sports, Baseball,
Softball, American Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and
Golf. Wilson is part of Amer
Sports Group, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock
Exchange.
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SOURCE Wilson Sporting Goods Co.