The match of the 20 million

BarcelonaTaking advantage of a match against Manchester United, Barça's ticketing team became interested in the English club's business model at Old Trafford stadium. Josep Maria Bartomeu was still in charge at the time, 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 at the hotel, accompanying 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.

"This stadium will be paid for by the rich," they often recall from the executive suiteThe renovation of Camp Nou, the temporary stay at Montjuïc, the return with 60% capacity, and the urgency to repay the credit to Goldman Sachs are a perfect excuse to justify asking for 499 euros to watch a Barça-Madrid match in a standard seat or charging up to 12,500 euros for a ticket next to the bench with canapés included for more than four hours. But the reality is that this business model has come to stay. "The rich will pay for this stadium," they often recall from the executive suite. They know the measure is unpopular, but they argue it's the only way to make the numbers add up.

In this business scenario, the classic Barcelona-Madrid match plays a key role. It is one of the games 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 not a coincidence, as the draw is conditioned to make it decisive for the title. Sometimes, the second leg has to be 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 sold out days ago 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 already 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 of them are guaranteed access to catering, from an hour and a half before the match until an hour later. 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 a privileged location as its specialty: the first row of the corner of the second tier costs 2,850 euros and goes up 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 now, there are still a few of these tickets left to sell.

The forecast is that, if they all end up being sold, the turnover will be around 20 million, counting standard and VIP seats. It would be almost double compared to 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 round. Once the stadium is finished, the VIP offer will rise to 8,000 seats, including the double ring of private boxes in the third tier. There will also be rooms for these very special clients who for now have to be distributed among the Palau, the Museum, the Sala París or, even, the Grand Hyatt hotel (formerly Princesa Sofia).