The 70 most important days in the recent history of Camp Nou

BarcelonaWith the temporary turf installed and the pitch lines painted, anyone watching images of the Camp Nou renovations has the feeling that football can finally be played again. This is exactly what the board of directors wants to convey, setting the countdown to the return to the stadium and urging Limak to finish his work this summer. The intention is to return on the weekend of August 9 and 10 to play the Gamper, turning the tournament into a "pilot test"—in the words of president Joan Laporta. However, although official Barça sources are very optimistic about the possibility of meeting the deadline, the rest of the stakeholders involved are more skeptical.

There is still a lot of work to be done at the stadium. Since the renovation work began, problems have arisen continuously, delaying the renovation. The only specific work was the demolition of the third tier, which was even completed ahead of schedule. The rest has been a succession of headaches: Limak's struggle to find labor, time restrictions imposed by Barcelona City Council, and unforeseen deficiencies in the 1957 structure. Added to this is tension between the club and the Turkish construction company over a delay that has undermined the management team's credibility.

In any other situation, Barça would have extended their exile on Montjuïc for another season and moved forward with the renovation work. The difference between carrying out only renovations or combining them with football means moving 25% faster. But Barça is in a hurry to return to the stadium. On the one hand, because operating the Camp Nou means earning more money and, therefore, aiming for a higher budget. A key circumstance at a time when the club is still waiting for the fair play Financially, he has to be able to sign a contract. On the other hand, due to pressure from Goldman Sachs, the financial institution that lent the 1.45 billion to carry out the renovation and is in a hurry to start recovering its investment.

A more provisional return than expected

Limak has 70 days to complete the first phase. It should be completed by August 1st, as promised to Barça. It will, however, be a more provisional return than expected. The club had hoped for the first and second stands to be 100% complete once the Camp Nou resumed play. This won't be the case. Basic services will be available, but some will still be missing, which will be completed throughout the season. For example, the food service, which will initially be minimal. Capacity is also not fixed. It will be below the projected 62,000, and it won't be until well into the season that all available seats can be filled.

At this point, the reopening permit that the City Council must grant will be a key issue. And more specifically, the ability to meet the safety requirements validated by the fire department. Given that the stadium will be under construction and access to the pitch must pass through construction zones, the access points will be temporary, complicating a hypothetical emergency evacuation. Therefore, capacity may be temporarily limited until work is more advanced on the exterior of the venue. The final figure will not be known until the permits are obtained, at which time season tickets for members will also go on sale.

The unofficial sources consulted see it as "very difficult" to arrive in time for the Gamper Stadium. "It's not the interior that's a concern, but the access points," maintains one of the architects consulted. However, there is more optimism for September, the planned date for the first official matches at the stadium. The club, as President Laporta explained in Monday's interview with 3Cat, has requested that La Liga play the first few matchdays away from home. The president said that, after the Gamper match, he was planning to return "at the end of September or early October" to the Camp Nou. Barça qualifies Laporta's words and clarifies that the planned date is the weekend of September 13 and 14, after the international break.

The Gamper test

If the Gamper ends up being held in time for the match, the match will serve as a guinea pig to detect potential problems before the official competition, whether related to services, transportation, or logistics. In addition, there would be a month afterward to continue working without football interfering with the renovation work. But, above all, the tournament will serve as a cash grab. The Gamper is primarily aimed at tourists with deep pockets and willing to pay large sums to see Barça, led by Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and company. Furthermore, that weekend is one of the busiest for tourists in Barcelona. The opponent is yet to be confirmed, although the club is tempted by the idea of inviting an English team.

The most urgent thing is to finish the entire seating area. VIP of the first and second stands, and thus convince the auditor to include the €100 million from the sale of these facilities to two investment funds in this season's accounts. Then, apply for a business license from City Hall. And finally, finish the access points and replace the temporary turf with the permanent one. The next 70 days will be crucial for the future of Camp Nou. Then, the coexistence of football and the construction work, which will last at least two years, as the stadium won't be finished until the summer of 2027, unless there are any other unforeseen events.