Barcelona’s Camp Nou return is delayed due to permit issues, forcing their match against Valencia to be played at the smaller Johan Cruyff Stadium. The club faces ongoing construction hurdles, missing multiple deadlines for the stadium’s reopening, leaving fans in anticipation.
Barcelona's highly anticipated return to the newly renovated Camp Nou has been delayed. A critical permit snag has forced the club to relocate their upcoming La Liga match against Valencia. The game, initially slated to mark the grand reopening of the iconic stadium, will now be contested at the much smaller Johan Cruyff Stadium.
The club had secured permission to play their initial matches of the season away from home. This allowed them to accelerate construction work at Camp Nou. The plan was to unveil the revamped stadium after the international break. However, they couldn't meet the requirements for the permits in time.
This marks the third time Barcelona has missed a public deadline regarding the stadium's reopening. The Johan Cruyff Stadium, with a capacity of just 6,000, will now host the Valencia fixture. This is a far cry from the expected atmosphere of a full Camp Nou.
Barcelona has remained tight-lipped about a firm date for their Camp Nou return. Fixtures against Getafe and Real Sociedad are looming. There is also a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon. It remains to be seen whether the stadium will be ready for any of these key games.
Local and football authorities have conducted numerous site visits. However, the club is still awaiting the essential certificate of completed work. This certificate is a prerequisite for obtaining permission to occupy the stadium. Barcelona cannot welcome fans into the partially completed Camp Nou until this hurdle is cleared. Even with a limited capacity of 27,000 in the main stand and south end.
As a contingency, Barcelona had an agreement with the city council for access to the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic until February. They called Montjuic home last season. Montjuic has been provisionally registered for Champions League matches this year. However, the Camp Nou becomes available, this can be changed. Adding to the frustration, a Post Malone concert at Montjuic this weekend ruled out its use for the Valencia game.
In a brief statement, Barcelona acknowledged their “intense efforts” to secure the necessary permits. They also thanked fans for their patience. The club promised to provide updates on ticketing and access arrangements. The delay is a setback for Barcelona. They aimed to celebrate their 125-year anniversary last November at the refurbished stadium.
The initial stadium plan was divided into phases. The first phase involved accommodating 62,000 fans while construction continued. Following the second phase, the stadium capacity would reach 105,000. The first phase has now been further divided into three sub-phases. These phases would allow 27,000, 45,000, and then 62,000 fans, respectively.
After missing the November deadline, Barcelona had indicated the opening was imminent. They suggested deadlines in December, the new year, and then spring. There was hope for May’s clasico against Real Madrid. But it didn't happen. This summer, president Joan Laporta declared that Barcelona’s traditional pre-season curtain raiser. It was to be played at Camp Nou on August 10, under the banner “we’re back.” Unfortunately, they were forced to play at the Johan Cruyff instead.
Recent work has been completed at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. It included setting up camera positions for video assistant referee (VAR). La Liga regulations require stadiums to have a capacity of at least 15,000. However, an exception will be made in this instance.
Barcelona's last match at the old Camp Nou took place in May 2023. Work began on the stadium immediately afterwards. The project is managed by Turkish company Limak. Limak won the tender, partly due to its promise of faster construction compared to other bids.
