Latest news with #NouCamp
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Barcelona set to postpone Spotify Nou Camp's return date AGAIN ahead of new season - as reason for yet another delay of £1.25bn project is revealed
Barcelona 's exile from the Nou Camp is set to continue with their return date likely to be delayed again. The 99,000-seater stadium has been closed since renovations began in 2023 and was supposed to be reopened last November, before being pushed back to next month. They have been forced to host home games at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, where the women and youth teams play, while the £1.3billion extensive works have taken place. Once refurbishments are completed, the Nou Camp will be the single largest sports venue in the entirety of Europe, with a capacity of 105,000. The club announced that the Joan Gamper Trophy, an exhibition match against Como, would be the first game back, marking the end of the first phase of renovations. However, licensing problems are now preventing the Catalan giants from hosting the fixture. They are still waiting to receive an occupancy permit from the city council, which they require to host the match. It appears unlikely that the match against Como will be played at the Camp Nou, club sources told Marca, although a decision will be finalised in the next few days. The council has previously stated that it cannot grant a licence until the stadium works are fully completed. Barcelona are now targeting September 14, when they host Valencia in the league, as a new date for reopening. But even once it reopens it will be at a lower capacity, expected to be between 50,000 to 60,000, until renovations are finished, which is likely to be at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. The completion of a new third tier, a roof installation, interior spaces and development of the stadium's surrounding areas still need to be completed. Last season Hansi Flick led the club to their first league title away from the Nou Camp.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Barcelona's special 'Lionel Messi plans' for Nou Camp's reopening in 2026 after £1.3b renovation
Barcelona are reportedly planning a grand ceremony featuring former talisman Lionel Messi to mark their return to the Nou Camp. The Blagruana have been forced to play away from their historic home since the end of the 2022-23 season to allow for a significant overhaul of the ground, with the extensive renovation work costing more than £1.3billion. The upgrades include the completion of the new third tier, a dual VIP ring and the installation of a new roof. Once refurbishments are completed, the Nou Camp will be the single largest sports venue in the entirety of Europe, with a capacity of 105,000. With the works ongoing, the club have been forced to play their home matches nearly three miles away at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Last season Hansi Flick led the club to their first league title since their exile began and preparations for how they will mark their long-awaited return are reportedly well underway. The club are expected to return to the Nou Camp for the annual Joan Gamper Trophy exhibition next month, renovations will continue to take place over the coming season. As such, the full festivities are not scheduled to take place until the renovation is fully complete. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barca chiefs are planning on featuring Messi as the jewel in the crown of their opening ceremony, with several other club legends also set to appear. Should the stadium's roof be installed as planned next summer, the club are reportedly hopeful of staging the event during the 2026-27 campaign. Despite the proposals however, the report adds that no direct contact has yet been made by the club regarding a potential return to Catalonia for the Argentina captain. Messi has not been in contact with Barcelona president Joan Laporta since his acrimonious departure from the club in the summer of 2021 amid The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner subsequently opted to remain in Europe, spending two years at PSG before joining MLS side Inter Miami in 2023.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Barcelona confirm date for return to the Nou Camp after project was hit with repeated delays - but £1.25bn renovation won't even be finished
Barcelona will return to the Nou Camp ahead of the 2025-26 campaign - but the renovated ground will only be partially opened, the club has announced. The Joan Gamper Trophy, the LaLiga giants' annual exhibition match, will mark the club's return to their famous stadium on August 10 as work concludes on the £1.25billion project. The Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys has been Barca home since 2023, with the original date for the club's return to the Nou Camp set for their 125th anniversary on November 29, 2024. However, the club has continually pushed back their homecoming due to slow progression on construction. Though a return has now been confirmed, in a statement on Wednesday, the club revealed that work will continue in various areas of the stadium. These include the completion of the new third tier, the dual VIP ring and the roof installation. Additionally, 'final touches' will be made to interior spaces as well as the development of the stadium's surrounding areas. When refurbishments of the Spotify Nou Camp eventually come to an end, it will become the single largest sports venue in the entirety of Europe, with a capacity of 105,000. The club released a jazzy promo video to accompany the announcement which included a few glimpses of the new-look arena The club released a jazzy promo video to accompany the announcement which included a few glimpses of the new-look arena. But earlier this year, fans were able to enjoy two incredible time-lapses of both the inside and the outside of the ground. Builders could be seen working through the night with seats finally being put into place across the stands. Barcelona's determination to return to their ground before work is complete bolsters claims of the financial hit the side has taken in the years away from the ground. The club have been in dire financial straits for a number of years. The costly renovation of the Nou Camp will allow the club to rake in millions. Revenues at the Olympic Stadium are considerably lower than what they will enjoy when refurbishments are finished. Once completed the stadium will reportedly use green energy sources through 18,000m2 of solar panels, producing its own energy and generating zero CO2 emissions.
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Transfer news LIVE: Darwin Nunez ‘open' to Napoli switch, Chelsea ‘enter' race for PSG star, Pogba ‘AGREES' new deal
Pole position Wojciech Szczesny will remain at Barcelona next season. The veteran keeper came out of retirement last year to sign on at the Nou Camp. And club president Deco confirmed: "Wojciech Szczesny will sign a new deal and stay with us next season."
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Barcelona reveal first game at renovated Nou Camp as 100,000-seater stadium finally nears completion
BARCELONA president Joan Laporta has revealed when the Nou Camp will officially be reopened. The iconic stadium has been undergoing a period of redevelopment over the last two years. 2 2 As a result, the capacity is expected to increase from 99,000 to around 105,000 when the building work is finished. The ground was initially expected to open at the end of last year, but delays pushed the date back. Now, Barcelona expect to return in August. Club president Laporta has earmarked August 16 - the day of the Gamper Trophy match - as the potential reopening. Speaking on TV3 while reviewing the club's season, the Spaniard said: "We want it to serve as the pilot test for the stadium's reopening. We're working on this idea. "The Gamper is expected to be held at the Spotify Camp Nou. "We want it to be a pilot test in terms of access, operational capacity, etc. "We believe it's the best way to run a full-scale trial." The new stadium is expected to cost Barcelona £1.25billion overall. But, it is also anticipated to earn the club an extra £25million per year in revenue. Since leaving the Nou Camp, Barcelona have been playing their home matches at the nearby Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium. When they return, the ground would have officially been renamed to the Spotify Camp Nou following a £235m deal with the music streaming service. The Spanish giants go into the 2025-26 season as La Liga champions having beat Real Madrid to the title by four points.
