Barcelona Awaits Approval to Return to Camp Nou
FC Barcelona is eagerly awaiting the green light to return to their home stadium, Spotify Camp Nou. The team, now led by coach Hansi Flick, has been playing their home games at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys while Camp Nou undergoes renovations.
The club had hoped to welcome fans back to Camp Nou as early as this Sunday for their match against Real Sociedad. The initial phase of the renovation was designed to open the first two tiers of the main stand and the south goal, accommodating around 27,000 spectators.
However, the Barcelona City Council has put a hold on these plans. After a recent inspection, the council determined that certain safety and evacuation procedures needed further improvement before a permit could be issued. This decision was a setback for the club, especially since they had organized a media tour of the stadium on the same day.
Despite the initial disappointment, both FC Barcelona and the City Council are optimistic about resolving the remaining issues soon. The club is now focusing on securing the necessary permits to host their La Liga match against Girona on October 18 at Camp Nou.
Adding to the positive outlook, there’s a possibility that the stadium could accommodate even more fans than initially planned. Barcelona aims to open the lateral stand as well, which would increase the stadium’s capacity to approximately 45,000 spectators.
The lateral stand is nearing completion, and an inspection by Dekra, a company accredited by the City Council, is scheduled to take place in the coming days. Dekra’s technical report will be crucial in determining whether the license can be granted.
A larger capacity is also significant for another reason: UEFA, the governing body for European football, requires a certain number of seats for stadiums hosting Champions League matches. Currently, Barcelona is scheduled to play their first Champions League home game against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Once the lateral stand receives approval, the club plans to discuss with UEFA the possibility of moving the remaining Champions League group stage matches to Spotify Camp Nou. This would allow Barcelona to play their Champions League matches in their true home, in front of a significantly larger crowd.
While no official predictions are being made, there’s a growing sense within FC Barcelona that they will soon be able to welcome fans back to a renovated and improved Spotify Camp Nou, with a capacity of around 45,000. The return to their home ground would be a major boost for the team and its supporters, marking a new chapter in the club’s history. The coming weeks will be crucial as Barcelona works to finalize the necessary safety measures and secure the permits needed to make this highly anticipated return a reality.
