Spotify Camp Nou stress test

It will be the first occasion that the team and fans will meet again at the blue and claret stadium since the farewell on May 28, 2023, when a tribute was paid to Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets before the start of the renovation works, which are still ongoing. Although the club continues to play its matches at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, plans are already in place for a gradual return to the Les Corts venue. The intention is to resume official matches there when the second phase of the works is completed, at which point the stadium will be able to accommodate around 47,000 spectators. This will allow for greater profitability compared to the approximately 27,000 seats currently available.

An essential test

The club´s officials are finalizing the last details of what will, in practice, also be a stress test for the venue, which despite still being under construction, already has the first occupancy permit and can be used partially. Although there has been speculation about the possibility of the LaLiga match against Athletic Club (November 22) being played at Camp Nou, there is still no official confirmation. Additionally, another important question remains open: whether Barça will need to keep Montjuïc operational for Champions League commitments. The final decision will depend on UEFA.

Delay with reward

The club wants to take care of all aspects related to safety, accessibility, and mobility. Therefore, this open training session on November 7 will take place at the Spotify Camp Nou. Initially, this test was supposed to be held during the summer, provided that the works and permits allowed it, but it has ultimately been postponed until November. The change of date will be an advantage for fans, as it will coincide with a first team training session. Two possible dates were considered: Friday 7 or Saturday 8. The officials of Espai Barça preferred Saturday as it is a holiday and would facilitate attendance of more people (up to 27,000), in addition to reducing the impact on the works.

Respecting Hansi Flick´s wishes

Finally, it has been decided to respect the preferences of coach Hansi Flick, who did not want to disrupt the team´s routine in the middle of the competition. Barça will face a difficult trip to Vigo on Sunday, November 9 to meet Celta (9:00 PM), and the German coach did not want the event to interfere with the preparation. Therefore, the training session with fans will be held on Friday 7, while the session on the 8th will take place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

Affordable tickets for a weekday

Although the event will be on a weekday, the club is confident of filling the 27,000 spectator capacity. In the coming days, Barça will announce the details, but the intention is to schedule the training at a time that interferes as little as possible with the team´s activities. Additionally, tickets will be sold at affordable prices, so that no fan has difficulty attending and enjoying a special day watching Hansi Flick and his players in action during the open session.