He Barcelona will face its 125th anniversary in a scenario that was not in its president’s initial plans Joan Laportathe ambition to return to Camp Nou because the celebration of this important date was thwarted by the significant delay in the work of the stadium, leaving the culés supporters exiled, at least, until February in the Luis CompanysIn Montjuïc. A situation which shows problems in the management of a crucial project for the future of the Barca and this is causing more and more unease among members and followers.
Since the reform of camp we as part of the ambitious project Espai Barca, Jane Laporta He assured that the team would return to its stadium at the end of 2024, even projecting its return as possible for November 29, the date of the club’s 125th anniversary. In fact, in September this year he expressed confidence in meeting the arrival deadline before 2025.
“We are excited to come back at the end of the year,” he said at an official event. Laportasomething that came not only from his mouth, but also from one of the current Catalan spokespersons, the institutional vice-president. Helene Fortwho reinforced this idea by promising that “in a few days” the Camp Nou would be ready to reopen.
However, the reality is different. The works, responsible for Limak Constructionare moving extremely slowly at this stage of reform, and the Camp Nou, currently without seats and with the first stands half-built, is far from operational. This delay forced the club to officially postpone its return to February 2025, after announcing it in a press release, leaving the team in Montjuic for the January matches against the Valence and the Alavés (in the League) and the Atalanta (in Champions). This imposes an additional burden on members, who will have to continue to pay for the use of the Luis Companysa place far from the atmosphere offered by the camp we.
The 125th anniversary of Barcelonaa very special moment for the entity and that Laporta I wanted to take advantage of it camp wewill have to adapt to the limits of exile in Montjuic. Instead of using the stadium as an epicenter of activities, the club will organize events such as the presentation of the new anthem at Liceu Grand Theatera solution which, although symbolic, does not have the impact expected by Catalan members and supporters.
He Barcelona justified the delay by pointing to logistical and bureaucratic complications, as well as strict UEFA regulations which prohibit changing stadiums during the initial phase of the Champions League. Added to this are protests from neighbors due to the nighttime noise of the works and the difficulty of finding qualified personnel, reasons which, according to the management of Laportaprevented the promised deadlines from being met.
In fact, it will be expensive Barcelona. Each day of delay in the work of the camp we This represents an approximate cost ofand a million eurosaccording to club figures. In addition, the total investment of the project amounts to 1,450 million eurosof which 960 million corresponds to the stadium. This additional cost has a direct impact on the club’s economy, already weakened by years of poor financial management which Laporta He couldn’t correct it.
Despite the difficulties, the Barcelona It hopes to partially inaugurate the Camp Nou in February 2025 with a capacity limited to 64,000 seats, including 2,600 VIP seats intended to recover part of the investment. It will be necessary to wait until August 2026 for the stadium to reach its total capacity of 104,200 spectators, thus completing the project, provided that no further setbacks occur…
