Barcelona to leave Camp Nou for 2023/24 season
Cameron Smith
- 28 Apr 2022 09:55 CDT
- 3 min read
Barcelona will move to a temporary location for the 2023/24 season as plans to renovate the Camp Nou have been confirmed.
The stadium, which opened in 1957 and is the largest in Europe, will be renamed the Spotify Camp Nou from next campaign onwards following sponsorship from the music streaming service, but Barca won't play their home games at the venue during the 2023/24 campaign.
Instead, the club will use the Lluís Companys Stadium as their temporary home while the Camp Nou undergoes renovation work.
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The stadium was the main location for the 1992 Olympic Games, held in Barcelona, and has a capacity of 55,926.
Plans for these renovations have been delayed by a year, meaning Barca will play their home games with a full capacity next season.
What have Barcelona said?
The club released an official statement confirming the project. It reads: "Renovation work on the Camp Nou, the epicentre of the Espai Barça project, will begin this June, as soon as the football season has ended, and in accordance with the building permit approved this morning.
"The work will focus on the first and second tier, technological aspects, the environs of the stadium, and exterior urbanisation.
"Actions inside the Camp Nou will include the demolition of the additional structure in the South Goal zone where the Medical Centre was located, restoration work, anti-carbonation and waterproofing of the stands, as well as structural finishes and the improvement and renovation of retransmission systems."
"As President Joan Laporta said a few weeks ago, given the uncertainties generated by the war in Ukraine, especially with regard to the cost and availability of materials, a precautionary principle is to be observed in order to minimise risks and protect next season’s revenue, but with the least possible impact on the works schedule.
Agreement on the transformation of Espai Barça and work on new Camp Nou to begin in June
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 28, 2022
"The demolition of the third tier will therefore go ahead in the summer of 2023, which will win time given the current uncertainty of prices, and will ensure that the Camp Nou can operate at virtually full capacity next season. Demolition any earlier would have meant having to play the 2022/23 season with just 50% of capacity."
While full renovation plans won't begin until next year, Barcelona confirmed in their statement that some works will start as soon as the current season concludes.
The Camp Nou will feature a 360 degree screen and will allow 5G connectivity. It will also reduce the carbon footprint of the club with measures including electrified parking spaces, solar panels and fewer energy costs.
