The great chimera of Camp Nou
For the first time in many months, Barça's plans for returning to Camp Nou coincide with those of the City Council. Until now, the club had been ignoring the idea with unrealistic proposals and unrealistic deadlines. But with the logical progress of the renovation, the point has been reached where reopening is not only possible, but also possible. In many areas it is already taken for granted.
Nothing can be guaranteed 100% because there's still work to be done. But with a month's time and a massive battalion of workers, it would be very unlikely if the first-time license to host at least 27,000 fans wasn't obtained by mid-September. Two other stumbling blocks remain, aside from the City Council: the visits from La Liga and UEFA, which have also been met with skepticism recently, but which now hope to convince.
The fault has never been the City Council's, despite the temptation of some to blame it. If anything, the council has made things easier. The problem has never been the permits, but the construction work itself. Thinking that the first phase could be completed in 18 months was an absolute pipe dream. Except for those linked to the club and Espai Barça, no one was saying that returning in a year and a half was possible. What's more, there hasn't been a major engineering project throughout history that hasn't had problems or unforeseen events. About a year ago, one of the workers' WhatsApp groups was already circulating that the reopening wouldn't be until September 2025. Ultimately, those working on the ground are the ones who truly know.
No one can take away from Joan Laporta's leadership. They've been brave and have begun a pharaonic, multi-million-dollar project that few would have dared to undertake. It will be his legacy forever. But there was no need to talk about November 2024. Nor was there any need for the theatrics of last October's season ticket sales. I don't know if it was to please Goldman Sachs or if they insisted on the lie to justify Limak's choice. Over time, the bouncing from one pipe dream to another has been a disgrace that, in the short term, overshadows the immense value of renovating Camp Nou.