The "crown jewel" of Camp Nou will have to wait

BarcelonaMeeting the construction deadlines for the Camp Nou is no longer a matter of pride or a propaganda tool for Joan Laporta. Having won the elections with authority, the president-elect does not need grand gestures towards the fanbase or populist measures to win their favor. The manager's main concern is ensuring the new stadium generates the promised revenue, and therefore it is essential to finish it as soon as possible. But all large-scale works have delays, and the Blaugrana coliseum is no exception.

Obtaining the necessary permits for the reopening of the first and second tiers was a headache. First, it was to be achieved in November 2024, then in October 2025, and finally, no more than 60,000 people could be accommodated in the stadium until March 2026. These delays had consequences for the construction of the third tier, which is where the double ring of "vip boxes is located, and which will be the "jewel in the crown" –in the words of the club's own managers– of a renovation that must guarantee at least 350 million euros in annual revenue.

During this period of reforms, and with the progressive return to the stadium, Laporta and his team have constantly appealed to the provisional nature of the situation and have made efforts to ensure a good presence of members in the stadium, with a more than notable volume of tickets sold to tourists that allowed for great revenue. The 200 euros that the cheapest ticket cost on the day of the reopening, the 500 euros for a ticket for the clasico day, or the 10,000 euros requested for a "vip seat with luxurious catering at this very same Barça-Madrid match are an example.

But this is not enough. For this season, the objective was to raise 226 million with the stadium, and projections said that next season it would be 300. However, forecasts will have to be revised downwards because the third tier will not yet be available. At least, not until well into the season. The latest sketches speak of a partial reopening around Christmas, and in the blue-and-red offices they are crossing their fingers to try to achieve 100% capacity –104,000 spectators– before the summer of 2027. As RAC1 reported, this is the objective the club is setting for itself, although sources from Espai Barça admit to ARA that it will be very difficult to achieve. Everything will depend on the speed of the workers, who cannot go at the desired pace because they have to combine the renovations with the football matches, and also on the bureaucratic procedures with the Barcelona City Council.

Barça and the City Council must agree on the opening deadlines for the third tier

Club sources confirm they are in talks with the city council to draw up a roadmap, and that from here the construction phases will be finalized. It is a priority to open the double ring of "vip boxes, many of which are already sold, and also to have seats in the third tier that will be aimed primarily at the club's social members, with new season tickets. For the moment, Free Seating will remain suspended and the club will maintain the current system where season ticket holders must notify their attendance in advance. Thus, approximately 30,000 tickets will be available for the general public, about the same as what's already there now.