Riddell, the maker of football helmets and associated products, plans to kick off construction of a $27 million factory and warehouse building the size of six football fields next July 13, in North Ridgeville, Ohio.
The unit of Rosemont, Ill.-based BRG Sports will move about 500 jobs, some of them part-time and some from Illinois, to the new building.
The planned building replaces a 220,000-square-foot building Riddell leases in Elyria, Ohio.
Previously, Riddell secured incentives and zoning changes from North Ridgeville for a building that will be 347,205 square feet in size. The project puts 8 acres of a 40-acre site owned by a Westlake, Ohio-based investor group under roof. Previously, the parcel was the site of a high-vacancy shopping center. The retail building was demolished seven years ago for a retail redevelopment that failed to proceed.
Riddell said the new production and distribution center will be responsible for assembling football helmets and custom shoulder pads. It also plans to move to North Ridgeville from Rantoul, Ill., production of a line of full-size collectible football helmets and distribution of most of the company's football gear and apparel.