Barcelona to Hold Open Training Session at Camp Nou After Renovation
After spending two years away due to renovations at the Camp Nou, FC Barcelona announced their return to the stadium for an open training session scheduled for November 7th.
Limited Capacity for Event
The training session will accommodate only 23,000 fans, significantly less than the expected 105,000 capacity once the renovations are completed.
“The FC Barcelona men’s football first team will officially return to the Spotify Camp Nou next Friday, November 7, to hold an open training session in front of the Barca fans,” the club stated on their official site.
Tickets for the event will be priced at five euros for club members and ten euros for the general public. Proceeds from the ticket sales will support a charity focused on assisting sick children.
Delays Still Impacting Completion
Despite the ongoing renovation for over two years, the iconic stadium remains unready for matches, even at a limited capacity.
“This session will also serve as a technical and operational test to ensure the proper functioning of systems, access points, and various aspects of the facility as part of the stadium’s gradual reopening process,” the club added.
Concerns regarding evacuation routes and other safety issues have been raised by the city’s fire department.
Timeline and Financial Implications
Barcelona initially aimed to reopen the stadium last November; however, multiple delays have hindered their plans. The local council has only authorized a capacity of 27,000 spectators, leading the team to continue competing at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic until they can return to Camp Nou with at least 45,000 fans.
These construction delays have caused significant financial strains on the club, which heavily relies on stadium revenue to regain stability. It is estimated that Barcelona will spend around 1.5 billion euros on the renovation.
