Not more than a few months ago, Barcelona fans were extremely hopeful about the return to Spotify Camp Nou, which was set to re-open around March.
The prospect of returning to Camp Nou, after all, promised better revenues, higher seating capacity and an overall better experience for the team.
Barcelona face significant hurdles
However, in a major blow for Barcelona, it appears the club are facing significant challenges in their bid to re-open Camp Nou in the first quarter of 2025, reports Diario AS.
Despite last week’s detailed briefing on the phased return to their iconic stadium, the club have now admitted to having no clear timeline for when they can finally move back.
March 2025 has been highlighted as a crucial month, potentially determining if the team will play their home games at Camp Nou this season or continue at the Montjuic.
Barcelona’s Camp Nou return could get delayed (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
The renovation project, aimed at modernising the iconic Camp Nou has faced major setbacks, which has put its completion in doubt.
Although construction is visibly progressing, unexpected incidents have thrown off the original schedule. Weekly meetings with Limak, the construction company, have now become a staple.
The urgency of March stems from the upcoming UEFA Champions League round of 16, scheduled between March 4 and 12, 2025.
If Barcelona qualify directly, they would prefer to host these critical matches at their historic home.
However, the club’s board expresses doubt about meeting this deadline, with the report suggesting a return might not occur until September 2025 at the earliest.
This won’t bode well for Barça, who were betting on a return to Camp Nou to rejuvenate the club’s finances.