The Antoinette Tubman Stadium (frequently abbreviated ATS Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium located in Monrovia, Liberia. It is used mostly for football matches although it has also been used for music concerts, major church events, political rallies and Ebola treatment. It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators and is the oldest stadium in Liberia.West Africa (magazine), ed. West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., London, UK, August 2000, pag. 41
Background
Before being constructed, in its location situated at the junction of the United Nations Drive and Lynch Street, a sports pitch with a dilapidated wooden shelter, previously used by sports fansA. Doris Banks Henries, The Liberian Nation: A Short History, ed. H. Jaffe, 1954, pag. 167 for recreational purposes, already existed. Therefore, no later than 1952, then president William Tubman built in the same spot a stadium and named it after his wife Mrs. Antoinette Tubman.A. Doris Banks Henries, A Biography of President William V. S. Tubman, ed. Macmillan, 1968, pag. 74
Being the only stadium for many years until the 1980s,Joseph Njoh, Liberia: The Path to War, ed. Spectrum Books Limited, 2007, pag. 159 that is before Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium was completed, Antoinette Tubman Stadium hosted and still hosts numerous home games of the LFA-First Division clubs but also matches of the Liberian national football team such as qualifiers for the 1968, 1976, 2013, 2015 and 2017 African Cup of Nations or qualifiers for the 1982, 2006, 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup tournaments and many other contests as well.
Antoinette Tubman Stadium has been the site of various True Whig Party conventions, especially during the presidency of William Tubman,For ex. the convention from 23rd of January 1959 - William V. S. Tubman, President Tubman of Liberia Speaks, pub. Consolidated Publications Company, vol 1, 1959, pag. 286Or the convention from 7th of February 1963 where he was nominated as a presidential candidate for a fifth term - United States. Central Intelligence Agency, Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts, issues 27-28, 1963, pag. 151 as well as other major political events and rallies most recently being the "One-Million-Man March" rallyCoalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Set for One-Million-Man-March Rally organised by the Congress for Democratic Change and president George Weah marking his renomination to race in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.Liberia: CDC Turns Monrovia Blue
Antoinette Tubman Stadium has also been known to be utilized as a venue for several concerts and music festivals performed by mostly afrobeats, afropop and hip-hop artists and bands like Wizkid,Wiz Kid Live in Liberia - May 2014 DavidoDavido shutdown Liberia or KceeKcee live in Liberia etc.
Also major church days and religious events are frequently held on Antoinette Tubman Stadium like the commemoration of 500 years of Reformation organized by the Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL) in 2017Remembering Christ's message or Liberian Muslims gathering and performing Eid al-Adha prayers in 2018.National Muslim Council of Liberia Hails Muslims for Upholding Unity
In 2014 during the Ebola virus epidemic Antoinette Tubman Stadium was converted into an Ebola treatment unit.Liberia football ground converted into Ebola treatment centre
Renovations
Antoinette Tubman Stadium is equipped with an artificial grass surface since 2001, the artificial allweather pitch being financially funded by FIFA through their "Goal programme".The FIFA Goal programme began in 1999 and aimed to promote football projects and development work in the world's most vulnerable countries - Holly Collison, Youth and Sport for Development: The Seduction of Football in Liberia, ed. Palgrave Macmillan, UK, 2016, pag. 16 In 2022 the stadium was refurbished again with the financial support from FIFA, this time LFA being entitled to "FIFA Forward Programme" funds for the 2019-2022 cycle. The renovation project included the re-roofing of the ATS stadium, the installation of a new electronic board, new floodlights systemLiberia: ATS to Begin Hosting Night Games and complete restoration of the LFA headquarters in the SKD Boulevard community.Liberia celebrates opening of new headquarters
See also Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia
References