FC Barcelona’s president is predicting a hit of almost €100m to matchday revenue when the club temporarily relocates due to the Camp Nou redevelopment project.
Joan Laporta told radio station SER Catalunya that the financial implications of the switch to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, and a possible €93m decrease in matchday income, makes him feel “dizzy”.
The LaLiga giants will play at Montjuic, the home of the 1992 Olympic Games, during the 2023-24 season as the stadium is expanded from a capacity of 98,000 to 105,000. Its temporary home has a capacity of just 55,000.
However, while the club will make less from ticket sales and other matchday revenue streams, Laporta said it is drawing up plans to generate cash from the Olympic Ring area around its temporary home.
He said: “There is a drop in revenue that we will compensate in other ways. An environment can be generated that causes new revenue: we have the Olympic ring and many things can be done. Every match In Montjuic it has to be a party. That’s why we have to be there for only one season and four months.
“There are 400 million culés (Barcelona fans) in the world, and we will have to make Montjuic profitable with 5,000 culés who want to attend these festivities. It doesn’t have to be that difficult. There are companies that manage concerts, for example, companies here, that can help a lot.”
FC Barcelona made €136.1m from matchday revenue during 2019, the most recent pre-Covid year for which accounts have been published. That figure made up around a sixth of total revenue of €836.7m, with broadcast and commercial segments both larger.
The club has already estimated that it will spend up to €20m on improving facilities at its temporary home, which was RCD Espanyol’s ground between 1997-2009. Some €7m is likely to be spent on transport and security improvements.
FC Barcelona commenced renovation work at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in December, with improvements to pitch drainage one of the priorities.
