Featured image credit: Espai Barca
FC Barcelona has postponed its return to the Spotify Camp Nou after the LaLiga club confirmed that it would continue playing at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys until early February.
Barcelona has been playing at the latter venue since the start of the 2023-24 season while major redevelopment work is carried out at the Camp Nou. The club has previously said it would move back into a partially open Camp Nou midway through this season, but it is yet to set a specific return date.
UEFA regulations prevent clubs from changing stadiums during the group phase of the Champions League, meaning that Barcelona is committed to playing these games at the Estadi Olímpic until January 29, when it hosts Atalanta.
Due to the logistical difficulties and additional costs involved in maintaining two high-capacity facilities at the same time, Barcelona has chosen to play all its home league matches at the Estadi Olímpic until the Champions League group stage has concluded.
As a result, LaLiga matches against Valencia on January 26 and Deportivo Alavés on February 2 will be played at the Estadi Olímpic. Barcelona’s next scheduled home match after that is against Rayo Vallecano on February 16, although the club could have a Copa del Rey quarter-final on February 5.
If Barcelona is required to play a knockout phase play-off in the Champions League, it is hoped the home match of the two-legged tie would be held at the Camp Nou. The knockout phase play-offs are scheduled for February 11-12 and February 18-19, and Barcelona would only be involved in this stage if it finishes between ninth and 24th in the group phase. The club is currently sixth in the group phase.
Last month, Barcelona revealed that the capacity of the Camp Nou is expected to be around 62,000 when it reopens later in the season. The stadium’s capacity is set to be 105,000 once work is fully completed.
The venue is on track to be fully ready by 2026. When the stadium partially reopens, supporters will enter the stadium via a temporary access control system. Permanent seating will already be installed by the time the stadium partially reopens, along with temporary lighting and toilet facilities in the first and second tiers.
The stadium will also offer catering services and other amenities, while 200 parking spaces will be available, although they will be reserved for club commitments.
In other news, Barcelona has partnered with New Era Visionary Group (NEVG), a provider of connectivity and infrastructure integration services.
The deal names NEVG as the official telecom operator of Barcelona and will run from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2030. As part of the deal, the club will launch Barça Mobile services in the coming months.
Barcelona will work with telco Orange on the Barça Mobile services, and the Camp Nou will also be equipped with 5G connectivity infrastructure. The club said the technology will ensure the stadium has the “best connectivity in the world”.
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