Barcelona Set to Return to Nou Camp After Renovations

Barcelona is set to return to their legendary Nou Camp home after a hiatus of over two years, as they prepare to host Athletic Club in La Liga this weekend.

The stadium will reopen following partial renovations, accommodating a reduced capacity of 45,401 for the match scheduled on Saturday, 22 November at 15:15 GMT.

The last official game played at the Nou Camp took place on 28 May 2023 against Real Mallorca, prior to its closure for renovation work.

Renovations commenced in June 2023, with an estimated cost of approximately £1.1 billion. The objective is to modernize the stadium and expand its seating capacity to 105,000, positioning it as one of the largest venues globally.

Initially, the club hoped to return to the Nou Camp by November 2024, coinciding with Barcelona’s 125th anniversary; however, they have encountered several delays since then.

During the renovation period, the team has primarily played at the 55,000-seat Olympic Stadium located on Montjuic hill. Additionally, they have held two matches at the 6,000-seat Johan Cruyff Stadium, the home of their women’s team, due to safety-related permit issues preventing them from using the Nou Camp.

“Barcelona celebrates the opportunity to compete again at its stadium and continues to progress in the comprehensive transformation project for the new Camp Nou,” the club stated.

They are also in discussions with UEFA to potentially host next week’s Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt at the revamped venue, although official confirmation is still awaited.

Since its opening in 1957, the Nou Camp has served as the home ground for Barcelona, previously holding a capacity of 99,000.