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It takes a lot of work to get to the Super Bowl - even for the official game ball. Employees at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio, got busy making the footballs to be used in the big game on Feb. 7 - as soon as the AFC and NFC championship games ended. Click through to see how they are made.
Photos: AFC Championship
Photos: NFC Championship
Complete Coverage: Super Bowl XLIV
Credit: AP Photo/Amy Sancetta
Michelle Burkett cuts a sheet of leather into four panels to make an official football for the Super Bowl at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The factory began making the game balls Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games.
Quality control expert Pam Clark shows off the four cut leather panels to be used in the making of one of the official balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The factory, which has made the official Super Bowl football since the first Super Bowl in 1966, began making this year's game balls Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games.
Melissa Putman snips threads from the stitched lining of panels to be made into the official balls for the Super Bowl game between the Colts and the Saints at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010.
Jane Helser sews together the full ball in the process of making the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The factory began making the footballs Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games.
Glenn Hanson sews together the full ball in the process of making the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The Indianapolis Colts will face the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Miami.
Glenn Hanson sews together the full ball in the process of making the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. Hanson has been doing the stitching of the official balls for 37 years and is planning on retiring before next year's Super Bowl is played.
Emmitt Lawrence turns the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV from inside out to right side out at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010.
Wava Howard stitches the official balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010.
Quality control expert Pam Clark reaches for one of the unfinished official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. Since 1941, every football used in NFL games has been produced there.
Christina Gatchell laces the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The factory began making the game balls Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games. They have been making the official game balls since the first Super Bowl in 1966.
Sue Nichols laces the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The factory began making the NFL game balls Sunday night immediately after the conclusion of the NFC and AFC championship games.
Sue Nichols laces the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. They have been making the official balls since the first Super Bowl in 1966.
Inspector Micki Adams weighs one of the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The game balls must all weigh between 14 and 15 ounces, and measure 28 inches end to end and 21 inches around the middle.
Inspector Micki Adams measures one of the official game balls for Super Bowl XLIV at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The game balls must all measure 28 inches end to end, 21 inches around the middle, and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces.
Final inspectors, from left, Micki Adams, Barb Harnishfeger, and June Hamilton, inspect and choose the the official game balls to be used in the Super Bowl in Ada, Ohio on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. They they look for tight strings, lots of pebble on the surface, perfect stitching and printing, and "They just have to feel right."