Barcelona’s first home game will be at the 6,000-seater Johan Cruyff Stadium instead of the Nou Camp due to ongoing renovations and pending permits. This has caused disappointment among fans and concerns from Valencia, their opponent. The club hopes to open the Nou Camp for the match against Real Sociedad on September 28th.
Barcelona fans, get ready for a twist! Marcus Rashford and the team won't be kicking off their home season at the iconic, newly-renovated Nou Camp as initially hoped. Instead, their first home match will be held at the considerably smaller Johan Cruyff Stadium, a venue with a seating capacity of just 6,000.
The reason? The Nou Camp isn't quite ready to welcome back the masses, despite earlier assurances from the club that it would be game-ready by November 2024, coinciding with Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebrations. This delay throws a wrench into the club's plans and leaves fans eagerly awaiting the grand reopening of their beloved stadium. The club had been granted permission to play their first three fixtures away from home to allow the completion of construction work. But even with a little extra time thanks to the international break that followed, the club haven't yet obtained documents that allow it to open.
Adding to the logistical puzzle, the Olympic Stadium, which served as Barcelona's temporary home for the past two seasons, is unavailable due to a Post Malone concert scheduled just two days before the match. This leaves the Johan Cruyff Stadium as the only viable option, albeit a far cry from the Nou Camp's impressive 100,000 capacity.
Barcelona last graced the Nou Camp pitch in May 2023, before the commencement of extensive renovation work. These renovations, estimated to cost around 1.3 billion euros, aim to modernize the stadium and expand its capacity to a staggering 105,000, making it one of the largest and most state-of-the-art football venues in the world. The renovations will include new hospitality suites, improved access for disabled fans, and a retractable roof.
The club is working to get a permit to open the stadium "in the coming weeks". That permit, known as the Final Construction Certificate, is granted by the city council. Reports in Spanish media suggest the stadium is ready to be used, pending the necessary clearance.
But why the delay? It all boils down to pending permits. While the club has stated that the stadium is structurally ready, they are awaiting the necessary clearance from the city council to officially open its doors. These permits ensure that the stadium meets all safety and regulatory standards, guaranteeing a secure and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
The switch to the Johan Cruyff Stadium isn't just a matter of venue; it's a financial hit for Barcelona. The significantly reduced capacity translates to a substantial loss in matchday revenue. However, the club remains optimistic, with a source stating, "Logically it concerns us more than it worries us... But we hope to more than compensate for this inconvenience of reduced income in the coming weeks."
The Johan Cruyff Stadium, named after the legendary Barcelona player and manager, typically serves as the home ground for Barcelona's women's and youth teams. While it may not be officially big enough to host a La Liga game according to league rules (which stipulate a minimum capacity of 8,000), an exception has been made in this case due to "architectural" grounds. Preparations have been underway to ensure the stadium meets the necessary standards for a La Liga fixture, including the installation of camera positions for the video assistant referee (VAR).
Given the limited capacity of the Johan Cruyff Stadium, tickets have been allocated through a ballot system, exclusively available to full season ticket holders from both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. This exclusivity has sparked disappointment among many fans, including Miquel Taberner, who expressed the sentiment that "Most fans feel disappointed, and of course I'm one of them... Camp Nou is not just a stadium, it is the heart of the club and our matchday experience is not the same without it. We understand the work being done is necessary, but the absence is strongly felt."
Adding another layer to the situation, Valencia, Barcelona's opponent for the match, has voiced concerns to La Liga regarding both the choice of venue and the late notice of the switch. Despite these concerns, Valencia has confirmed that they will receive 290 tickets for their fans to attend the match. Valencia striker Diego Lopez, speaking on Thursday, acknowledged the situation was far from ideal. "It's a situation that I think should have been resolved a long time ago, not only for the team but also for the fans," he said. "I think they deserve an answer so they can go and cheer on the team."
So, when can fans expect to return to the Nou Camp? A Barcelona source has indicated that the stadium should be ready to welcome fans for their league match against Real Sociedad on September 28th. However, the fate of their preceding home match against Getafe on September 21st remains uncertain. Only time will tell when the Camp Nou will fully return to its former glory.