Stahls’ Hotronix Fusion press ready to create custom jerseys behind the scenes in Green Bay.
As the 2025 NFL Draft gets underway in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Stahls’ is proud to once again be behind the scenes supporting one of the most highly anticipated events in professional sports. When Commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the microphone to announce each pick, a jersey featuring the player’s name and the No. 1 is already customized and ready. It’s not because anyone knows the pick ahead of time — it’s because the personalization process with a heat press takes about 30 seconds, faster than the time it takes for the commissioner to walk to the podium. A runner–sometimes a fan of the team that had the pick– delivers the jersey from the production area to the stage, and the rest is history.
Behind the Scenes Since 2012
This marks the 14th consecutive year Stahls‘ has played a role in the NFL Draft, a tradition that began in 2012 when Nike, newly partnered with the NFL, approached Brent Kisha and our team with the idea to make the on-stage moment even more memorable by customizing jerseys live onsite. As Darren Rovell, founder of cllct and veteran sports collectibles reporter, recently noted, “The adrenaline is amazing for this event,” said Brent Kisha, who has worked at Stahls’ since 1991. “We started doing it when it was in a small theatre in Radio City Music Hall, and now it’s a traveling road show with thousands and thousands of fans.”
Almost everyone at Stahls’ saw that amazing fan energy for ourselves, when the 2024 NFL Draft was hosted in our hometown area of Detroit.
Powered by Hotronix
But no matter where the Draft takes place, the machine used backstage is the Hotronix® Fusion IQ® heat press — our best-selling model. In Green Bay, there’s even an extra Fusion IQ® on standby, just in case, although no machine has ever failed during the event. The system behind the scenes is run with precision. As Rovell describes:
- Once the pick is finalized, an official relays the name to the Nike/Fanatics jersey room.
- Jersey folders are organized alphabetically by team, each with the correct font and team color.
- Brent Kisha pulls the right nameplate, positions it by eye on the correct jersey, and applies it with the Hotronix press.
At Stahls’, customization has been at the core of what we do for over 90 years, (since 1932) whether it’s for professional athletes, team dealers, or small businesses. Being trusted to play a small role in the NFL Draft, year after year, is a great honor for our company and our team members working hard behind the scenes.
Congrats to all the players
Congratulations to all the players being drafted this week — and a big thank you to everyone involved in making this event happen. I’m happy to share the article written by Darren Rovell in its entirety.
Done in 30 seconds: How the NFL gets customized jerseys to the draft stage so fast – Yahoo Sports