Back in 1954, American Trampoline was started in Jefferson. Decades later, it’s AAI/Spalding, still in Jefferson, and a world leader in the manufacturing of sports equipment. Spalding basketball backstops are mainstays in the NBA and NCAA, and now in Europe.

Mark Lane of AAI/Spalding in Jefferson explains. “On the Spalding side, we shipped our last container of portable backstops to Europe back in December to become the supplier for the Euro League. That’s a 16 team league over there and they played their first season on Spalding backstops. In the finals, a team from Russia won the league.” He was asked what the feedback on the backstops has been. “We’re getting good reports. We actually have an agent in Germany now that is importing portable backstops to sell in Europe. We’re there now and there on a pretty big stage, so we’re excited about that. We’re there and we’re not leaving.”