Barcelona to Return to Nou Camp After Renovations
Barcelona will return to their iconic Nou Camp home after more than two years when they face Athletic Club in La Liga this weekend.
The stadium will reopen following a partial renovation, with a reduced capacity of 45,401 for the match scheduled on Saturday, November 22, at 15:15 GMT.
Barca last played an official match at the Nou Camp on May 28, 2023, against Real Mallorca, before the venue was closed for renovations.
Renovation work commenced in June 2023, with an estimated cost of around £1.1 billion, aimed at modernizing the stadium and increasing its capacity to 105,000, which will make it one of the largest stadiums in the world.
Initially, the plan was to resume matches at the stadium by November 2024, coinciding with Barcelona's 125th anniversary. However, the Catalan club has encountered several delays.
During the renovation, the team has primarily played at the 55,000-seat Olympic Stadium located on Montjuic hill. Additionally, they played two matches this season at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home of their women's team, due to safety permit issues that prevented them from using the Nou Camp.
“Barcelona celebrates being able to compete again at its stadium and continue advancing in the comprehensive transformation project of the new Camp Nou,” the club stated.
They also mentioned that they are in discussions with UEFA to host next week’s Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt at the renovated venue, pending official confirmation.
The Nou Camp has been Barcelona’s home ground since its opening in 1957 and previously had a capacity of 99,000.