Barcelona’s Training Ground Suffers Damage Amid Severe Weather

omidbasir- On Thursday, Barcelona’s training ground experienced significant structural damage due to extreme winds that swept across Catalonia. This inclement weather also resulted in a partial suspension of renovation efforts at Spotify Camp Nou. As a precaution, the team was required to travel to Madrid a day earlier for their Copa del Rey semifinal match against Atlético Madrid.

A wall at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, adjacent to a public road, collapsed after the surrounding fencing gave way. Fortunately, the club reported that no injuries occurred as a result of the incident. The area has been secured, the road has been closed, and restoration efforts for both the wall and fencing are currently underway.

In addition, construction on the exterior of Camp Nou, which is not expected to be completed until at least late 2027, was temporarily halted. However, work inside the stadium continued, according to a club source.

The forecast for extreme winds had already prompted FC Barcelona to change their travel plans. The team flew to Madrid on Wednesday instead of Thursday. This decision proved prudent as numerous flights and trains departing from Barcelona were canceled on Thursday due to wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h (62 mph), as reported by the news agency ACN.

By midday, over 60 individuals had sustained injuries related to the severe weather, with more than 20 requiring hospitalization, while various buildings and trees throughout the city suffered damage.

The training ground, situated in Sant Joan Despí on the city’s outskirts, was among the affected sites. In a statement, the club indicated: “Due to the severe winds, the training ground has suffered structural damage, including the collapse of a section of a wall and a perimeter fence along Francesc Macià, in the area between Pitch 3 and the women’s first team training area.”

The club further reassured that no personal injuries had been reported, and teams were dispatched to ensure the safety of the affected area and begin preliminary assessments of the damage. The impacted section of the road will remain closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic until further notice, strictly for safety reasons.

Work on the exterior of Camp Nou, where the team returned to play home games in November after nearly two years away, was also suspended for safety considerations. FC Barcelona had initially anticipated returning to Camp Nou in 2024; however, they resumed play there at the end of last year following multiple delays in the renovation process.

Currently, the stadium operates at a capped capacity of approximately 45,000, with one stand behind the goal remaining entirely vacant. The club is optimistic about obtaining a permit to open this section soon, which would increase the capacity to over 62,000. Once the renovations are completed, the capacity is expected to expand to 105,000.

The team arrived in Madrid shortly after midnight on Wednesday for their Copa del Rey match against Atlético Madrid, aiming to gain an advantage ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.