Had Camp Nou renovation work been completed on schedule, Barcelona would already be back playing in their old home, albeit with a reduced capacity. However, delays to the project mean the club continues to play its home matches in Montjuic, at the dated Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Here’s the latest on the Camp Nou renovation progress, as construction work continues to transform FC Barcelona’s old home into one of the biggest and best sports stadiums in the world.
When will Barcelona return to Camp Nou?
The initial plan was for the Catalan giants to be back at Camp Nou by the end of 2024. However, there have been significant delays to the project, and it was recently announced that Barcelona will not return to Camp Nou until May 2025 at the earliest.
That will mean Barca will continue to play home games at the Estadi Olimpic over the next few months, but a switch before the end of the 2024/25 campaign is still the objective.
The FC Barcelona schedule for May includes home fixtures against Real Madrid and Villarreal in LaLiga, as well as a possible Champions League semi-final should they make it that far.
A possible Clasico return to Camp Nou on the weekend of May 10th/11th would certainly be a mouthwatering prospect, although that would pose a problem for the club, given their current lease at the Estadi Olimpic does not run as far as May, when concerts are scheduled to take place at the Montjuïc venue.
The latest reports suggest a deal may be struck though. The club released a statement on 30th January, announcing a request to extend their lease until the end of this season. However, they did also reiterate their desire to play their final matches at Camp Nou, should it be possible.
Camp Nou renovation timeline
January 2014 – The club announces plans to renovate Camp Nou, having rejected proposals for a brand new stadium due to financial concerns.May 2015 – Formal plans unveiled for the new Camp Nou, with a proposed capacity of 105,000 and a canopy over the stadium.August 2020 – The project is hit by fresh delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with construction work pushed back.May 2023 – Barcelona play their final home game at the old Camp Nou, with Ansu Fati scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Mallorca. Demolition and extensive reconstruction work begins.August 2023 – The club moves into the Estadi Olimpic, the former home of city rivals Espanyol. Barca beat Cadiz 2-0 in their first competitive game at the venue.December 2024 – Barca miss their initial objective of returning to Camp Nou by the end of 2024, rounding off the year with three straight home league defeats at the Estadi Olimpic.January 2025 – An announcement is made indicating that Barcelona will continue to play at the Estadi Olimpic until at least the end of April, the latest delay to the Camp Nou plan.
The future Camp Nou – FAQ
The FC Barcelona stadium construction project has been hit by numerous delays, and the most recent Camp Nou images suggest there is still a long way to go before it is ready to host football.
Even then, work will continue on completing the project, with Barcelona’s Camp Nou return to initially see them play home games at a reduced capacity.
What is the expected final Spotify Camp Nou renovation finish date?
The full renovation of Camp Nou is now expected to be completed by the summer of 2026. Assuming there are no further delays, Barcelona home games should be operating at full capacity by the beginning of the 2026/27 season.
What will the Camp Nou capacity be after renovation?
The stadium is expected to initially open with a capacity of just over 60,000, while construction work continues. That would still be an increase on the current capacity at the Estadi Olimpic, with Barcelona’s current home league fixtures attracting around 45,000 fans on average.
Once complete, the new Camp Nou will have a capacity of 105,000.
How will it differ from the old stadium?
While it will still resemble the old Camp Nou to a large extent, the new stadium will have a slightly increased seating capacity, making it the only football ground in Europe with a capacity of over 100,000.
The other major design difference will be the introduction of a roof which will cover all sides of the stadium.
In addition, the Espai Barca project will see significant changes to the area surrounding the main stadium and will feature additional sporting venues and a “pioneering sustainability project”.
What is the Camp Nou renovation cost?
Despite huge existing debts, Barcelona have gone ahead with the costly renovation plan. There are mixed reports as to what the final cost will be, but estimates place the stadium renovation work at around €900m, with the full Espai Barca project set to comfortably top €1bn.
The club hopes that the new stadium will ultimately see them make much greater revenues than was previously possible, and they see it as a way out of their current financial issues.
How can you get Camp Nou tickets?
Right now, Barcelona are still playing at the Estadi Olimpic, and with no fixed return date set for the new stadium, you cannot buy Camp Nou tickets yet.
Tickets for FC Barcelona home games can be bought in the usual way, through the club’s website or via partners such as sportsbreaks.com who offer package deals including accommodation.
The club’s museum at the Camp Nou site in the Les Corts district of Barcelona is still open though. A visit will enable you to catch a glimpse of the new stadium and see how the renovation work is progressing.
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