Doris Williams Stadium

{{short description|Football stadium in Liberia, Africa}} {{Infobox venue | name = Doris Williams Stadium | nickname = | image = | fullname = | location = [[Buchanan, Liberia]] | coordinates = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = | renovated = 2012 | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = | operator = | surface = Artificial turf<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/venues/liberia/doris-williams-stadium/|title=Doris Williams Stadium - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref> | construction_cost = | architect = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = CJ Construction (2012-2013) | project_manager = | main_contractors = | former_names = | tenants = [[Mighty Barrolle]] | seating_capacity = 3,000 }} '''Doris Williams Stadium''' is a multi-use [[stadium]] in [[Grand Bassa County]], [[Buchanan, Liberia|Buchanan]], [[Liberia]]. It is currently used mostly for [[football (soccer)|football]] matches on club level by [[Mighty Barrolle]] of the [[Liberian Premier League]]. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000 spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/venues/liberia/doris-williams-stadium/|title=Doris Williams Stadium - Soccerway|publisher=}}</ref>

==Renovation==

In July 2012, funds of $538,482,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=538482000|start_year=2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) were approved by Grand Bassa County administration to begin renovations on the Doris Williams Stadium. The county had plans to expand to 6,000 seats, build an administrative building, ticket and security booths, reinforced concrete bleachers, two VIP seated areas, parking lots, and fund landscaping.

The county had paid the contractor, CJ Construction Inc., 75% of the total cost, with an initial payment of $161,544.60. CJ Construction renovated an existing fence, gates, and some toilets. However, 100% of the construction had not been finished by the appropriate deadline, prompting an investigation.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/county-news/grand-bassa-citizens-threaten-court-over-alleged-misuse-of-758482-county-social-development-fund/|title=Grand Bassa Citizens Threaten Court over Alleged Misuse of $758,482 County & Social Development Fund|date=August 10, 2018}}</ref>

The failure of the contractors to deliver prompted community leaders, sports players, and social justice groups to speak out about the failures of CJ Construction to adhere to the agreement.<ref name="auto"/>

James Johnson, head of CJ Construction, cited a change in county leadership in 2013 as the reason for the failure to complete the work, saying that the government successors never followed up on the construction project.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2014, the Bassanonian community and local leaders again expressed public concern and frustration for the appearance of the stadium and had urged the Grand Bossa County administration to renovate and "beautify" the stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/sports/doris-williams-vip-stand-needs-facelift/|title=Doris Williams ‘VIP Stand’ Needs Facelift|first=Webmaster|last=Admin|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>

==Future Renovation Plans==

The FIFA Regional Development Office proposed the addition of new turf to Doris Williams Stadium in the spring of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201904180503.html|title=Liberia: Local Sports Pitches to Get Artificial Turfs|first=Anthony|last=Kokoi|date=April 18, 2019|website=allAfrica.com}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Football venues in Liberia]] [[Category:Grand Bassa County]] [[Category:Buchanan, Liberia]] [[Category:Mighty Barrolle]]