Super Bowl 52 will be played in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium, which will have just finished hosting its second Minnesota Vikings season after being built in time for the 2016 NFL season.
“The Duke” is the official game football of the National Football League® (NFL) and the only football that is allowed on field for the Super Bowl. It’s a tradition that began in 1941, and a key piece of Wilson history.
“The Duke” is hand-made at the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, OH. This factory is the world’s oldest factory dedicated to producing game-ready leather footballs only.
In less than 72 hours after the two teams were decided, the Eagles and the Patriots received the game footballs that they will be using in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl ball has the Super Bowl logo stamped on the ball, along with the names of both teams, date and location.
Each team gets 108 of them in two shipments within 48 hours of making the Super Bowl, giving equipment managers and quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Ryan ample opportunity to break them in. Half of those balls will be designated game balls, and one of them will end up on the tee at NRG Stadium for the kickoff. Kicker football (or “k balls) are sent directly to the Super Bowl officiating team. Teams present their 54 game balls to the officials on game day for inspection, then a DNA ink is added to the laces to indicate they are the authentic on-field game balls. Letter “K” is inscribed on the kicker ball, sealed in boxes (with anti-tampering tape), sent to the NFL official hotel one week before the game and then delivered to the officials’ room approximately 2.5 hours prior to kickoff.
The Wilson Football Factory takes pride in making the super Bowl footballs. Click here to see pictures of the factory.
Wilson and NFL Trivia:
Average number of footballs made by a single cowhide: 10
Pounds of air pressure in an NFL game ball: 13 psi
Total number of game balls used during the Super Bowl: 120, including 12 Kicker Balls
Number of laces found on an NFL game ball: 1
Total number of lace holes on an NFL game ball: 16
Total number of panels on an NFL game ball: 4
Jane Helser recently retired after working for nearly 50 years at the Wilson Sporting Goods factory, the source of the N.F.L.’s handmade footballs. Watch the video below and listen for additional triva.
Be sure to count or tally how many balls,”The Duke”, are actually used during the Super Bowl game. Bring your final tally to the library to enter the “Super Bowl” raffle! Winner will win NFL Coloring Book (2017-2018): All 32 NFL American Football team logos to color!
The raffle jar to participate is on the circulation desk. Deadline Monday 2/5 @2:30
