Barcelona Approaches Camp Nou Return Amid Ongoing Renovations

Barcelona conducted an open training session at Spotify Camp Nou on Friday, attracting 23,000 supporters as the club nears its long-awaited return to the historic stadium.

Since 2023, Barça has not hosted a match at Camp Nou, having temporarily relocated to the Olympic Stadium to facilitate a €1.5 billion renovation of the arena.

The training session served as a test event in anticipation of a return to official games later this month. Club President Joan Laporta expressed hopes of resuming play for the La Liga fixture against Athletic Club on November 22 or the following week when they host Alavés on November 29, coinciding with the club’s 126th anniversary.

Should these dates prove unfeasible, Barça is scheduled to welcome Atlético Madrid in the league on December 2.

The precise date of their return hinges on the council granting the necessary permit to host matches with a capped capacity of 45,401. Currently, Barça holds a license for only 25,991 spectators, granted in October, and they intend to wait until they can accommodate more fans before officially returning.

Construction continues on the stadium, with the first two tiers nearing completion while work on the third tier and the roof remains ongoing. The current estimate for full completion is in 2027, with capacity gradually increasing over time until it reaches 105,000.

In comments following the training session, Laporta reiterated his desire to welcome former Barça star Lionel Messi back for the stadium’s grand inauguration, stating, “It would be a great way to open the stadium [when it’s completely finished], with 105,000 packed in and paying tribute to Leo. Always, of course, depending on what [Messi’s camp] wants. There are also presidential elections before then, but if I am still president, I would love that.”

Messi’s departure from Barcelona in the summer of 2021 lacked a proper farewell due to the urgency of his exit and COVID-19 restrictions in place at that time. The Argentina international has yet to publicly discuss the prospect of a return to the club for any such event.

Meanwhile, the club’s return to Camp Nou has taken longer than initially anticipated. Barça initially aimed for a return by the end of 2024 but pushed back the timeline earlier this year, ultimately planning for the start of the current season in September.

However, delays in obtaining necessary permits forced them to play their first two games of the season at the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff due to unavailability of the Olympic Stadium. They have since returned to the Olympic Stadium for their last five home games but are hopeful that last Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Elche marks their final outing there.