The latest Spotify Camp Nou update puts Barça at risk of needing another 'new home' to complete the current Champions League campaign.
As we approach 2025, Barcelona are yet to confirm a date for their long-awaited return to the Spotify Camp Nou. Heading into the new year, this uncertainty has major implications for the club's financial situation and could complicate the season's objectives on the pitch.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, club president Joan Laporta stressed that the intention was to return “as quickly as possible”, but also acknowledged that if the stadium is not ready by March, this may not be possible before the start of 2025/26 season. . During an Extraordinary General Meeting to ratify a renewal agreement with Nike, vice-president Elena Fort explained that the club will hold a meeting with Turkish construction company Limak to set a concrete return date.
After long insisting the team would return to Spotify Camp Nou for the club's 125th anniversary celebrations in November 2024, Barcelona now face a race against time to return to their family home this season . Laporta had claimed that the threat of financial penalties against Limak – €1 million per day – would help the club recoup any lost revenue in the event of a delay. However, the company was able to avoid these fines because they were the result of unforeseen events such as permit delays, poor weather conditions and labor shortages.
Every matchday away from Camp Nou brings more frustration for the club and its fans, but things could become even more complicated as we move into 2025.
Should Barcelona find a new stadium?
Despite their recent problems in LaLiga, Barcelona are in imperious form in the Champions League. They are second in the 36-team rankings and look set to advance to the first real knockout round, which starts on March 4. However, this leaves the club in a dilemma as their temporary Estadi Olímpic home in Montjuïc could be double-booked for those crucial midweek dates.
Reports in Spain suggest that Barcelona may have to change venues for the final stages of the competition as other events are already scheduled at the Estadi Olímpic. Clubs have until February 21 to confirm where they will play the Round of 16 and cannot change the venue for the remainder of this season's competition. If work on the Spotify Camp Nou is not completed within the next two months, the club will be forced to look for alternative venues or enter into an agreement with event organizers who had booked Montjuïc. Not an easy feat.
As it stands, Cornellà-El Prat, home to city neighbors Espanyol, seems the most viable alternative option. However, Valencia's Mestalla and even Atletico Madrid's Riyadh Air Metropolitano have been mentioned as potential locations.
Even if they finally return to the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona will do so with a capacity of around 64,000 fans, not the 105,000 supporters who will eventually fill the stands. One part of the stadium will initially still be under construction.
The 'temporary' move to Montjuïc has had real financial consequences for Barcelona. Once back at Camp Nou, they expect to earn a further €247 million from the huge Espai Barça complex. The renovated stadium will one day be a great boon to the club and will help steady the financial ship in the future. For now, Barcelona fans are just waiting for that day.
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