The risk that Barça members will no longer be the majority at Camp Nou

BarcelonaBeyond repairing damage and modernizing the facilities, the main reason for the Camp Nou renovation was to exploit business avenues that the old stadium did not offer: VIP fish marketsIt's not a whim exclusive to Barça. The football world is heading in that direction. For years now, most European clubs have renovated their facilities with the aim of making money, especially from those with the deepest pockets. So much so that a decade ago, UEFA even changed its regulations, meaning the Barça stadium couldn't host a hypothetical Champions League final because, among other things, the supply of private venues was insufficient.

In stadiums, lifelong fans, those who love their club and cheer on the team at matches, still make up the majority. But for how long? The money they leave in the coffers is small compared to that of the occasional fans, many of them tourists, who come for a single match and don't miss out on anything: good seats, merchandise, and food. An American model that is gradually gaining ground in Europe. In Barcelona, ​​until now, the coexistence has been good. It's true that there was already criticism about the large number of foreigners in the stadium, who seemed to enjoy a Barça goal just as much as one from the opposing team. They could make up as much as 30% of the total spectators. However, since the revenue they generated compensated for it, in the end, everyone looked the other way.

Barça's long-awaited return to Camp Nou has reopened this debate, as Joan Laporta's board has prioritized business over sentimentality. "It's a temporary situation, only for this season, until the stadium reaches full capacity," the board explains. Of the 45,000 available seats, around 24,000 were reserved for season ticket holders – giving priority to those who had supported the team at Montjuïc. The remaining 21,000 – after deducting club commitments – are for sale. And at exorbitant prices, ranging from €199 to €589 for the return leg. Members, who had priority in purchasing tickets, received a 20% discount. "It's a one-off situation because it's the return leg and because the opponent is Athletic Club. It won't be like this for the other matches," sources in the club's offices added.

There must always be 15,000 tickets on sale

"In absolute numbers, there are roughly the same number of tickets on sale. But since the stadium is under construction and capacity is reduced, the percentage of members compared to tourists will vary. It will be more balanced," notes a former Barça executive, well-versed in the situation. Before the renovation, Barça held 85,000 of the 100,000 seats in the old Camp Nou between season ticket holders (81%) and other commitments (4%). This meant having around 15,000 tickets available per match. The final figure could increase to 25,000 or 30,000 thanks to those released through the Seient Lliure program. Currently, and until the stadium reaches full capacity –There will be 105,000 spectators—, the Free Seat option is not activated. Therefore, initially, the same 15,000 tickets are available—which could be more if some members do not confirm their attendance. The difference lies in the percentages, as these occasional customers have gone from representing 15% to at least 45% of the total.

Something similar was already happening in Montjuïc, although the pricing policy was more reasonable and a significant portion of the tickets were purchased by locals. Thus, according to the club's metrics, which ARA has accessed, tourists They represented a maximum of 30% of the capacity on a match dayBut with the prices for the return to Camp Nou, it's very likely that the percentage of tourists will be higher. The club admits that the measure "is unpopular" and considers it "necessary" to meet the budget, which this season anticipates taking in 225 million euros from stadium operations. That's 50 million more than the 175 million from last season, played entirely at Montjuïc. Barça is confident of reaching this figure, partly due to its aggressive pricing policy and also because in the coming weeks they expect to receive the necessary permit (1c) to open the north stand and increase capacity to 62,000 spectators. Initially, a process will be opened to sell some of these seats to season ticket holders currently on leave, although the decision has not yet been made. Barça insists that this is a temporary situation while the renovations are underway.

Furthermore, Barça insists that this is a temporary situation, that prices will be revised downwards in the future, and that season tickets remain among the most affordable in Europe. In comparison, Real Madrid distributes tickets in a similar percentage for the Santiago Bernabéu: 75% for season ticket holders, 5% for commitments, and 20% for general sale. The difference is that the Chamartín stadium has a smaller capacity (83,000 seats) and offers two types of season tickets: the standard one for La Liga matches and the Euroabono, which includes Champions League matches. The latter ranges in price from €930 to €1,826, while at Camp Nou, season tickets for this season range from €420 to €1,092.

In Europe, ticket sales policies vary depending on the country. In the German Bundesliga, one of the priorities is ensuring stadiums are always full. Therefore, in addition to season tickets, individual match tickets cost between €20 and €80, depending on the team and the opponent. In England, fans must register and prove their support for a club to access tickets, which go on sale for the entire season in the summer. However, they can also be purchased through tour operators, a move that has generated some controversy because it breaks with a twofold tradition in the Premier League: rising prices and the increasing number of tourists attending matches passively, not necessarily supporting the home team, and indifferent to who ultimately won. It's the business of football.