The 20 million match

BarcelonaTaking advantage of a match against Manchester United, the Barça ticketing team became interested in the English club's business model at the Old Trafford stadium. At that time, Josep Maria Bartomeu was still in charge and the Camp Nou renovation project was being polished. The Blaugrana executives were surprised when they were explained the star product: it consisted of picking up the fan from the hotel, taking them by helicopter to the stadium, giving them a private tour, enjoying a luxury catering service at all times, and returning this spectator to the hotel, also by air, after the match. The price: 10,000 pounds. However, it only cost the club 2,000. The profit margin was extraordinary.

"The rich will pay for this stadium," they often recall from the management's top."This stadium will be paid for by the rich," they often recall from the board of directors. They know that the measure is unpopular, but they argue that it is the only way to make the numbers work.

In this business scenario, the classic Barça-Madrid has a key role. It is one of the matches that are marked in red on the calendar and one of the most anticipated by the ticketing team. The fact that the duel is four matchdays before the end of the League is no coincidence, as the draw is conditioned to make it decisive for the title. Sometimes, the second leg is played at the Bernabéu. But this time, and also last year, Barça is acting as the home team. From here, the fact that for the first time in history the duel can mathematically certify the title has been an extra incentive due to chance: standard tickets had already been sold out for days at exorbitant prices.

the vip offer will rise to 8,000 seatsThe key to the business lies in the 3,000 vip seats

Just with these tickets, a millionaire turnover is achieved, but the key to the business lies in the 3,000 VIP tickets that have been put on sale at a starting price of 2,500 euros. All have guaranteed access to catering, from an hour and a half before the match until an hour after. However, among luxury there are also categories. With this money, only one seat in the corner is included. If you want to watch the match from the stands, you have to pay 3,250 euros. From here, the premium VIP, which has the special feature of a privileged location: the first row of the corner of the second tier costs 2,850 euros and rises to 8,000 if you want to be in the middle of the field, in the first row of the side. Finally, the two star products: the opportunity to sit in the box and eat canapés next to the president costs 10,000 euros. And if you want to sit next to the bench, 12,500. For the moment, there are still some of these tickets left to sell.

The forecast is that, if all are sold, the turnover will be around 20 million, counting standard and VIP seats. It would be almost double the 13.5 million that Barça earned in the 24/25 classic, still played in Montjuïc. From this, obviously, the cost of services for the club must be deducted, although the business remains profitable. Once the stadium is finished, the VIP offer will rise to 8,000 seats, including the double ring of private boxes on the third tier. There will also be rooms for these very special clients who for the moment have to be distributed among the Palau, the Museu, the Sala París or, even, the Grand Hyatt hotel (formerly Princesa Sofía).