It is not expected that any director, executive or technician of Barça will openly admit to having made a mistake in the renovation of the Camp Nou. However, internally the club knows perfectly well that they made a mistake with the first tier and that a solution must be found imminently to fix the visibility problems. The provisional measure involves blocking the sale of the first rows of seats. But this is just a band-aid. That's why there is some urgency to correct the visibility problems that have become evident since the reopening.

The summer of 1994 was a pivotal one for Camp Nou. Then-president Josep Lluís Núñez spearheaded a renovation project that eliminated the moat and lowered the pitch level. This freed up a significant number of rows in the lower tier, leading to an increase in club members and season ticket holders. One of those who secured a seat was Xavier Barniol, who is among the new faces on Joan Laporta's board. The businessman, accompanied by other residents of Berguedà, enjoyed a site visit to see the construction progress firsthand. in situ From where he would watch the football. Row 2 on the side seemed like an excellent option. Of course, it wasn't all rosy. Both he and the other new season ticket holders suffered a major disappointment in the first league match: an advertising hoarding had been installed that blocked a significant portion of the pitch.

The Camp Nou renovation works have become a mountain of uncertainties and broken promises. From the initial return date for the first occupancy permits, to the cost overruns of the renovation, and continuing with the construction of the roof. The only thing that is known for certain is that it must be finished by the summer of 2029 because the bid to host the Champions League final is serious.

July was an intense month. The numerous meetings between Barça and the City Council regarding the reopening of Camp Nou culminated in an agreement that suggested a return to the stadium in September. By dividing the first phase of the construction into three stages (1A, 1B, and 1C), a window of opportunity opened for football to return to the Les Corts neighborhood, albeit with fewer spectators than anticipated. However, in reality, delays and misunderstandings have been constant. And while matches have been played since November, March will begin without the stadium being able to fill all the available seats.

Aside from the rout and Lamine Yamal's magnificent goal, the Barça-Oviedo match left three images for the history books. The first was the players, soaked from head to toe, stoically enduring the hail while pleading with the referee to blow the final whistle. The second was president Joan Laporta and vice-president Rafael Yuste standing impassively in the VIP box, without umbrellas or hats. And the third was the torrent of water pouring from the Camp Nou roof, filling the stadium's interior with puddles.

A month and a half without matches is a godsend for the workers at Camp Nou. From December 13th, when Barça played Osasuna, until the weekend of January 25th, when Oviedo will visit, the renovation work has progressed very well. When fans return to the stadium, they will notice substantial changes. For example, in the third tier, the concrete slabs are rapidly taking shape and are expected to completely cover the steel structure by the end of February. But the most important change, and the one most desired by Joan Laporta's board, is in the north stand. Since the first official match was played on November 22nd, this area has remained empty because the club still lacks permission from the City Council to use it. The Espai Barça project managers believe this situation could change, precisely for the match against the Asturian side. "That's the intention, but we can't take it for granted yet," admit sources at the club, where, having learned their lesson, they play it safe whenever they talk about deadlines at Camp Nou. In any case, obtaining the 1c license (the last one in the first phase) shouldn't take long. The club applied for it before Christmas, and the city council responded by requesting additional documentation. "Nothing that hasn't happened in other phases," insist sources at the offices, where they are confident of resolving all the bureaucratic procedures after the holidays. They also explain that the reopening of the north stand—besides increasing capacity to 62,500 spectators—will be accompanied by new season tickets, which will go on sale to season ticket holders who are on leave and were left without a seat in November. Complaints from the fanbase regarding the distribution of season tickets and the price of individual tickets have surfaced.

Finding the right balance isn't easy, especially in an election year. On the one hand, there's the pressing need to fill a stadium under construction to stay within budget. On the other hand, there are complaints from the fanbase, who have made it known through various channels to the board that they disagreed with the allocation of stadium seats—currently, of the 45,501 available seats, 24,800 were reserved for season ticket holders, equivalent to 55% off the price of a single ticket—and with the high prices (ranging from €100 to €400, depending on the section). Of the 24,800 season tickets on sale, 21,186 were reserved for those who had supported the team during their exile at Montjuïc. Once Barça's return home was confirmed, the remaining 3,614 season tickets were distributed among season ticket holders who were on leave. But demand exceeded supply, and many fans were left without a ticket. With the reopening of the north stand, the club will give them a second chance. "There will be an increase in season tickets, but we don't yet know the final number," explain official club sources. In any case, and according to what this newspaper has learned, the intention is to increase the proportion to 60%.

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Not a very flashy victory, but Barça's victory in the team's second match at the new Camp Nou (3-1). Here are four quick notes from the match.

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It's been a long time coming, but football is finally back at Camp Nou. The return will also impact the residents of Les Corts, who are preparing to once again experience match days. To try and minimize disruption, the Barcelona City Council presented them this Thursday with new measures to improve access to the stadium. This mobility plan includes traffic and parking restrictions and will also affect coaches traveling to the match. The system will begin its trial run this Saturday and will be refined as the stadium's capacity increases. Here are five key points for getting around Camp Nou starting this Saturday.

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In a vacant lot in Santa Fe del Penedès, between lonely vineyards and the C-15 motorway, some pieces of the new Camp Nou are waiting patiently to begin a second life. Being part of of one of the most important works currently being built in southern Europe to an uncertain future that could lead them to become either a stately door to a block of flats in the Eixample district or the nightstand you'll buy next week at Ikea.

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For the third time, Barça's men's first team will play at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. After playing at Gamper Stadium and in the La Liga match against Valencia, the club confirmed that it would face Getafe again on Sunday. And it might not be the last time, depending on whether it obtains the necessary permits to reopen the Camp Nou for the next match, on Sunday the 28th, when Real Sociedad visits. The ambition of Joan Laporta's board to start the season at home has come up against construction delays and bureaucracy. Nothing is certain, and optimism or pessimism depends exclusively on the person being asked. At the time of going to press, the majority of sources consulted were inclined to believe the game against the San Sebastian team will be played at the Camp Nou. On the other hand, it seems very difficult to be ready in time for the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

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Let's start by stating that the day Barça members can return to the completed Camp Nou, they will find it the best stadium in the world and will forget all the delays, the years spent at Montjuïc, and the lotteries to be able to go to Johan Cruyff or the Camp Nou halfway, the day they arrive. In this, there are no distinctions: everyone is eager to return home because there's no place like home, and when you return, the excitement of the re-opening makes up for the inconvenience.

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"He's burning our grass!" With that energetic cry, Barça officials protested at Barcelona Municipal Services (BSM) about the condition of the Montjuïc pitch. Having a pitch in perfect condition has been a priority for the Blaugrana team and the temporary exile in Lluís Companys generated disputes, some very heated, because things were not being done to the club's liking.

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After several postponements, Barça announced that their return to the renovated Camp Nou would be for the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10, against Cesc Fàbregas' Como. A few days later, however, The club announced that it would not be possible in the end. because the necessary permits were not obtained. Now, construction continues against the clock, always with the goal of being able to partially open the stadium for the first home league match, against Valencia, in mid-September.

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"If you have the ball, the other guy doesn't have it," you said one day. "Yes, and you still play with a ball, right?" And the crowd burst into laughter. opening the lineup and Basora, César, Vila, Moreno and Manchón closing it. 1877… We wouldn't finish.

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Barça announced on social media, in a video featuring Joan Laporta, that Camp Nou would reopen for the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10. The club's plan is to open the first two rings and a capacity of around 60,000 spectators. However, with just over a month to go until the first match at the stadium, there's no complete certainty that this can be achieved.

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Barça announced this Friday that it has closed a bond issue worth 424 million euros, allowing it to refinance 40% of the debt related to the Espai Barça before the return of the men's first team. to the Camp Nou on August 10 to compete in the Joan Gamper Trophy. With the participation of Goldman Sachs, which is handling the transaction from the investors' point of view, Barça has converted, through the same existing financial structure, a total of €424 million of debt used for the construction of the new stadium, which had an initial maturity in 2028, into a new structure that will begin to be repaid in 2033 and will be fully paid off in 2050.

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Almost two years after saying goodbye, on May 28, 2023, Barça has set an official date for its return to Camp Nou: August 10 to compete in the Joan Gamper Trophy. The Catalan club made this official this Wednesday through an announcement circulated on social media under the slogan "We're coming home, we're vibrating," featuring president Joan Laporta. However, Barça has yet to reveal the opponent for this match or the number of fans allowed to attend (although it is certain that capacity will be limited). The event will serve as a testing ground for the return to official competition, which will take place weeks later.

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The renovation of Camp Nou and the interest generation from the financing that is allowing the works to be carried out are progressing in parallel. This is one of the ways in which the twenty investment funds that have provided credit so Barça can undertake its most important project of the 21st century do business. According to the 2024 report of the Espai Barça securitization fund, published by the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) this spring, the Blaugrana club has accumulated €132.4 million in accrued interest (i.e., not yet paid) without any of it having been amortized. The first €46.9 million were generated in 2023, and the remaining €85.5 million, in 2024.

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The hectic movements of Barça's players on the pitch have given way to action in Aristides Maillol's offices. While player renewals are being finalized, with Lamine Yamal's being the most prominent, the club is keeping an eye on the shadow of the great sword of Damocles on the horizon in financial matters: some €800 million must be repaid from the financing of the Espai Barça construction project. before 2028. The figure is a result of the bonds (122.5 million for the first maturity of the operation), interest, and bridge loans. However, this forecast is likely to be adjusted due to the construction work on the asset that should allow the repayment of the financing for the Espai Barça, the remodeled Camp Nou, They are almost a year late.

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With 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.

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