1 min read

Season 6, Episode 27

Super Bowl LIX will feature handcrafted USA, Union-made footballs

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Guest Name:


Jeff Bonior

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Jeff Bonior, a researcher and writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Wilson Sporting Goods' footballs, the significance of union labor in their production and the factory's expansion in Ada, Ohio. 

Wilson Sporting Goods has been a staple in Ada, Ohio, since 1955, producing footballs by hand for the NFL, some universities and other professional sports leagues. Bonior explained that the factory employs 140 union workers, members of Local 1385 of the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United. He discussed how these skilled artisans craft each football with precision, in approximately three days. Bonior said the factory's commitment to quality and tradition is apparent in its ability to produce 27,000 footballs annually for the NFL, including specialized balls for kickers and various sizes for different age groups.

Bonior noted that the Ohio-based Wilson facility has grown significantly, after a $15 million expansion in 2024, allowing for better air quality and a more worker-friendly environment. The expansion also includes a museum area for public tours, showcasing the factory's rich history and the evolution of football manufacturing. This development not only benefits the workers but also strengthens the community's pride in their contribution to American sports.

Bonior emphasized the importance of union labor in maintaining high standards of production and worker satisfaction. The strong relationship between management and the union has fostered a positive work environment, attracting numerous applicants for job openings. This collaboration ensures that the tradition of handcrafting footballs continues, preserving the legacy of American-made sports equipment. Be sure to be on the lookout for the special edition Super Bowl LIX footballs that were crafted in the Ada, Ohio facility on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Hear more about the facility crafting union-made footballs for the NFL’s big game by listening to the show above.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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