Barca will move to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic before returning to Camp Nou for 2024-25.© Twitter
Barcelona will play home games outside the Camp Nou during the 2023-24 season while the stadium is being redeveloped, the club confirmed on Thursday. Barca will move to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic before returning to the Camp Nou for the 2024-25 season, when capacity will be reduced “by about 50 per cent”, the club said. Renovation works will start at Camp Nou in June and are expected to take four years to complete.
Members of Barcelona approved the 1.5 billion euro project in December, which aims to refurbish the aging Camp Nou and surrounding areas.
The stadium’s capacity will be increased from just over 99,000 to 105,000, while innovations include the installation of a retractable roof with solar panels, as well as several commercial facilities, including a hotel, ice rink and offices.
Barca president Joan Laporta said delaying the demolition of the third tier of the stadium will allow Camp Nou to run at “nearly full capacity” next season.
“An earlier demolition would mean that we would have to start next season with only 50 percent capacity,” said Laporta.
“To minimize risks and protect next season’s earnings, we will maintain near full capacity next season and continue to demolish the third tier when we move to Montjuic.”
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The Olympic Stadium, with a capacity of 60,713 people, was previously home to Barcelona’s local rivals Espanyol, who played there between 1997 and 2009.
Lionel Messi made his professional debut for Barça at the stadium, against Espanyol in 2004.
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