A significant phase of the large-scale renovation of the legendary Camp Nou stadium has been completed in Barcelona. The city administration has approved the first license to commission a section of the arena, allowing the stands to open for 27,000 spectators. Despite this, the club’s management has decided not to rush back to their home stadium and will continue hosting matches at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc.
The reason for this caution is simple: the club aims to wait for the next stage of construction, after which the capacity will increase to 45,000 seats. Only then does the team plan to welcome fans back to their home ground. Until then, all home games—including upcoming matches with Girona and Olympiacos—will be played at the temporary venue.
Plans for the return to Camp Nou have been postponed multiple times. Originally, it was expected that the stadium would reopen by November 2024 to coincide with the club’s 125th anniversary. However, the timeline has shifted: first to early 2025, then to the summer, and now a gradual opening of the stands is being discussed. The club hopes to obtain permission to increase capacity by mid-November, but the exact date remains unknown.
The long-awaited return and economic expectations
For the club, returning to the renovated stadium carries not only sporting, but also financial significance. The budget already includes projected revenues from matches at Camp Nou for the current season, but so far these plans remain only on paper. Every postponed deadline means extra costs: renting the Olympic Stadium costs the club about half a million euros per game.
The Camp Nou reconstruction is progressing in stages. After the completion of the first phase, designed for 27,000 spectators, the next step will be to open the side stand and increase capacity to 45,000. Next, the northern section of the arena is scheduled to open, allowing for 60,000 fans. The full renovation, including installation of the new roof, will not be finished before summer 2027. Until then, some stands will remain closed and spectators will have to cope with temporary inconveniences.
Regulations and challenges for the club
The situation is complicated by the requirements of European football organizations. According to the rules, all matches within a single tournament must be held at the same venue, except in force majeure circumstances. The club must coordinate with football authorities for the possibility to change stadiums mid-season, so as not to violate regulations or cause confusion for fans and competition participants.
For now, Barcelona is taking another step towards returning to its historic stadium, but fans will have to wait a bit longer. The wait is expected to be short: in the coming months, the club plans to secure all the necessary permits and reopen the doors of Camp Nou to tens of thousands of football fans.
