With a delay much greater than expected, work at Spotify Camp Nou is progressing. Despite the difficulties, the club intends to do everything possible to speed up the process.

Will the city council and local residents support the club’s request?

FC Barcelona has requested permission from the city authorities to carry out construction work 24 hours a day, six days a week. The ambitious stadium renovation project currently involves more than 3,000 construction workers. Barça openly acknowledges that the delay in the team's return to Spotify Camp Nou is a major setback.

Despite changes to the schedule, FC Barcelona assures that, unless further complications arise, the team will return home before the start of summer. Obtaining approval to work 24 hours a day, six days a week, would be crucial in accelerating progress. Currently, work with external machinery is allowed from Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM, and in some areas of the stadium until midnight, provided that it does not generate noise or light pollution in the northern part of the venue. In the southern section, work must stop by 10:00 PM. On Saturdays, work is permitted from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM but with restrictions in certain areas. Inside the stadium, work can continue until midnight as long as noise regulations are followed.

It is worth noting that residents of the Les Corts neighborhood have repeatedly complained about the inconveniences caused by the construction. On February 10, another meeting was held between representatives of the Espai Barça project, led by Joan Sentelles, and a group of 20-25 local residents.

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— Obras Camp Nou (@obras_camp_nou) May 19, 2024

The biggest change – delay in roof installation

Renovation work at the stadium has already been underway for nearly 14 months, and the club has presented a visual timeline highlighting the key progress points. One of the most significant changes to the original plan is the decision to postpone the roof construction until after the 2025/2026 season. Initially, the club planned to involve an Italian subcontractor to begin roof installation after the season ended in June. However, they have decided to delay this phase by a year.

This means that roof installation will not begin before the summer of 2026. The delay is due to the need for further advancement in the construction of the third-tier stands to allow for the placement of 1,400 tons of cables supporting the roof. This process will take three to four months and will halt other stadium adaptation work. After the cable installation is completed in the summer of 2026, the fifth phase of the project—installing the roof membrane—will begin. This phase will last throughout the 2026/2027 season, meaning that the inauguration of the new Spotify Camp Nou will take place only after the next FC Barcelona presidential elections. According to club estimates, the stadium will open in October 2026, four months later than originally planned.

Preparations for laying the pitch are underway

Despite the delay, the club assures that the stadium will be ready to welcome 63,000 fans for the 2025/2026 season, although without a roof to protect spectators and club officials from rain. Due to the schedule change, the lighting system also had to be adjusted. Originally, floodlights were to be installed on the roof, but now a temporary structure will be built between the second and third tiers to accommodate the necessary lights. Additionally, temporary access control systems and food service points will be implemented.

The 3,000 workers from the company Limak have already cleared the area where the new pitch will be laid. Over the next ten weeks, by mid-April, the new turf will be installed along with irrigation systems. Work on temporary stadium entrances, allowing fans to return later this season, will also begin soon. If everything goes according to plan, the surface will be leveled and reinforced, and new stadium entrances will be opened in the coming months.

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— Obras Camp Nou (@obras_camp_nou) May 20, 2024

FC Barcelona is still waiting for permits and watching the calendar

The club is still waiting for some construction permits. It acknowledges that obtaining all necessary approvals may be challenging and may not be possible this season. In addition to the work schedule and other unforeseen obstacles, Barcelona needs approval from LaLiga, RFEF, UEFA, as well as fire department and city hall licenses to determine whether the infrastructure is safe enough to accommodate 64,000 spectators while the third-tier stands remain under construction.

The ideal scenario for the club would be to complete the first phase of work by mid-April so that the relevant authorities have time to conduct inspections before the end of the month. However, obtaining city approval is neither simple nor quick. The club also still lacks permission to build underground side parking areas with a capacity of 4,000 spaces.

Will the club stay at Montjuïc?

Currently, after the cancellation of The Rolling Stones' European tour, the club is awaiting confirmation from the city authorities and BSM on whether they will be allowed to continue playing at Montjuïc until the end of the current season if Camp Nou is not ready by May. Within the club, there are growing concerns that a return to the stadium may not happen before September next year.

Fans had the opportunity to check the progress of the construction and get answers to their questions during an open information session on Tuesday, February 11, at 6:00 PM. The club’s vice president, Elena Fort, and the head of Espai Barça operations, Joan Centelles, provided detailed explanations about the stadium renovation.

© Stadionvoyeur | FC Barcelona will likely be able to stay at Montjuic until the end of the 2024/25 season.