Laporta's small victory amid doubts about the Camp Nou reopening

BarcelonaIt's no coincidence that every time Barça publicly mentions Barcelona City Council, it does so with highly complimentary words. The club knows perfectly well that the success of Espai Barça depends on the Barcelona City Council getting its act together in many areas. For example, the authorization to extend working hours outside the stadium with noisy machinery. This Monday, the club received good news. The City Council, with the approval of the residents of Les Corts, extended the license to work uninterruptedly outside until April 30th, from 8 a.m. on Mondays to midnight on Fridays on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays. A small victory, but one widely celebrated in the Barça offices.

The works have accumulated several months of delay And any attempt to return home at the start of the 2025/26 season involves a lot of work on the stadium's exterior. The workers on the ground assure that the first and second stands are well advanced and that the turf can be installed soon. But the main challenge is the structure of the third tier and the work on the underground mega-parking lot. Can professional football be played inside? Yes, but 60,000 people must be able to enter and exit while complying with all safety requirements. And this, with temporary access, not everyone sees as possible.

Until recently, Barça was convinced that reopening licenses would be easy to obtain. What was needed was "very good will"—in the words of the technicians in this area—although discreet work had already been done in the offices. But, as sources familiar with the matter tell ARA, a series of internal changes within the council jeopardize the implementation of the return plan that President Laporta and his team had in mind. The club is urging calm and explaining that the permits have not yet been requested, but that they will do so "when the time comes." However, those responsible for signing all the paperwork don't need the Barça authority to express their reservations. At least, not until more progress has been made. "There's too much provisionality. It's a matter of security," the sources consulted maintain.

The license to extend the working day at Camp Nou is key to completing the works on time.

That's why it was important to speed up the work, which until two weeks ago could be carried out 24 hours a day, but only inside the grounds and for quiet tasks or those that didn't require machinery. The city council has already informed the club—and has reassured residents—that it will continue to conduct periodic checks to ensure the license is being strictly enforced. Meanwhile, Barça is confident that this measure, which is currently exceptional, can be extended indefinitely. The only thing the club will not be able to do is work on Easter holidays or carry out work in the Mini Estadi area after 8:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the big question is whether Barça will be able to return to Camp Nou at the beginning of next season or not. Although the recommendation of technical specialists is to extend their stay at Montjuïc, the board cites economic reasons for accelerating the stadium's reopening. Official sources limit themselves to saying that "the forecast" is to start the new season at home and that "it is not planned" to play beyond May at the Estadi Olímpic. However, no one dares to guarantee it 100%. The budget for the 2025/26 season and, also, the chances of winning the title will depend on this return. Record the 100 million from the sale of 425 VIP seats as revenue, key aspects in the fair play financial. That is, that Barça has the ability to sign players.

BSM still doesn't know if it will have to permanently dismantle the Montjuïc football stadium.

This uncertainty extends to Montjuïc, where those responsible for BSM—the company that manages the Olympic ring's equipment—are awaiting instructions for the summer. Just a few months ago, everyone assumed Barça would bid farewell to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys this season. Now, things aren't so clear. "The club says it's leaving, but it was also supposed to leave in November. No one has told us anything," commented company sources, referring to work that could mobilize more than two hundred people. In May, after the La Liga season, the football pitch will be dismantled and the stadium will be made available for concerts. However, a whole range of equipment, such as the La Liga-approved seating, should be sent to Camp Nou, and, for now, no transfer has been scheduled.

On the other hand, BSM has scheduled two concerts, beyond those already planned for June and July: one by Blackpink on August 9 and another by Post Malone on September 12. With Montjuïc occupied, it's logical to think that Barça is leaving for good. But the Rolling Stones were also scheduled to play a concert in May, and in the end, the tour was canceled...