FC Barcelona has announced another delay in their return to the newly renovated Camp Nou stadium. The club will now wait until they receive permission to host 45,000 fans, a significant increase from their previous goal of reopening with a capacity of 27,000. This decision marks another change of plans for the highly anticipated reopening.
🏟️ A Bigger Goal for Reopening
In a recent statement, Barcelona explained that they will work towards returning to the Spotify Camp Nou once they obtain the necessary licence for “phase 1B,” which allows for the larger 45,000-spectator capacity. The club did not provide a new timeline for when this might happen. This new target is a shift from their earlier plan to return after securing the “phase 1A” licence for a smaller crowd.
🚧 A Project with Challenges
The redevelopment of Camp Nou, one of Europe’s most famous stadiums, has faced several setbacks. The project, estimated to cost around 1.5 billion euros, has seen its return date pushed back multiple times from the original November 2024 target. Earlier this season, the team had to play two matches at their 6,000-seat Johan Cruyff training ground after failing to get the required permits for Camp Nou, with the city council raising safety concerns in September.
🏠 Playing Away from Home
While the renovations continue, Barcelona will keep playing their home games at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic hill, which has been their temporary home for the past two seasons. The club has confirmed that their upcoming La Liga match against Girona on October 18th and their Champions League game against Olympiakos on October 21st will both be held there. Subsequent home fixtures against Elche and Athletic Bilbao in November are also scheduled to take place at the Olympic Stadium.
