Barcelona‘s Camp Nou has temporarily closed its doors for a major refurbishment.
Following the final game of the season against Mallorca, Barca fans said goodbye to the football stadium that has housed the Blaugrana since its completion in 1957.
Club president Joan Laporta confirmed this is as a result of remedial work in the iconic venue being carried out.
The historic stadium will be shut for 18 months as redevelopment takes place to repair serious structural issues after years of decay.
Although the stadium has remained a popular tourist attraction for decades a report from La Vanguardia highlighted safety concerns which included a “risk of fragments falling on supporters in walkways” and the need for “immediate action”.
Plans to renovate the ground – named “Espai Barca” (“Barca Space”) – were first approved back in 2014 but the project was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, financial problems and presidential changes.
How much will it cost?
Originally Barcelona claimed they had secured a financing deal worth €1.45bn (£1.25bn) with investors including JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
A club statement read: “The club will start to repay the operation once work has been completed on the stadium, using income generated by Camp Nou, which is forecast to be around €247 million per year.”
But when Barca issued bonds on Wednesday to fund their revamp, data published on the Vienna stock exchange revealed they will pay 6 per cent – 7.22 per cent interest depending on maturities, which is more than previously expected.
What are their plans?
In terms of the project itself, it will feature a complete reconstruction of the third tier which will see the capacity increase from 99,354 seats to 105,000 once renovations are complete, as well as a retractable roof covered by 30,000 square metres of solar panels.
This energy will not only be used to power a new 360-degree screen that will run around the entire interior of the stadium but also various security systems.
Rainwater will also be collected and recycled on-site in an effort to improve the ground’s sustainability overall.
Outside facilities such as an on-site hotel, office complexes, event spaces and an ice rink are also set to be constructed as part of the redevelopment.
It is expected to reopen at half reduced capacity in 2024-25 until work is completed sometime during the 2025-26 season.
“We trusted your experience, we trusted your professionalism and we are assured that your commitment will be successful for this club,” said Laporta of contractors Limak Construction. “Since we signed the contract, this club is your club as well.
“Obviously, I want to say many thanks to the ambassadors. Believe me, thank you for trusting Barcelona. Together, we will make the new Spotify Camp Nou the most secure, the most comfortable, the most commercial of course, and at the same time the most exciting stadium in the world.
“Together we will make it the best stadium of the world at the level of the best club in the world.”
Will the move affect their results?
In the meantime, Barcelona will relocate to the Olympic Stadium (known locally as Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys) in the Montjuic area of the city, which will reportedly cost them around €90m in revenue annually.
However this has caused concern for many fans as it is notoriously difficult to reach via public transport. In fact some season-ticket holders have apparently decided to stay at home for the next campaign as a result.
Yes, Xavi’s side only lost one home game all season but, if they are to repeat that sort of form that saw them crowned as champions of La Liga for the first time since 2019, they will have to turn their new place into a fortress, however difficult it may be.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/Ug8qvx4
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