spotify camp nou, barcelona
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
According to El Chiringuito TV, the Barcelona City Council is expected to grant the occupancy permit for the first phase of the Camp Nou reconstruction today.
After a long wait, Barcelona are hopeful this week will bring positive news, marking a major step towards returning to the Spotify Camp Nou.
The club is confident it will receive the First Occupancy License for phase 1A, which would allow the stadium to open with 27,000 spectators in the Tribuna and Gol Sur stands.
It should be noted that key matches such as Barça-Girona and the Champions League clash against Olympiacos will still be played at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuïc.
The next home game is against Elche on November 2, but the club is unlikely to make it for that fixture.
This means the return to Camp Nou could be on November 22, after the third international break, for the match against Athletic Club, which is expected to host 45,000 fans.
Phase 1A Limits and financial considerations
While the First Occupancy License for phase 1A is a significant milestone, it does not allow a full return to Les Corts.
spotify camp nou, barcelona
Barcelona are likely to return to Camp Nou in late November. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Only two stands would be open, giving a capacity of 27,000 spectators, less than half of what the Estadi Olímpic currently allows.
Because of this, Barça’s financial department has advised caution, noting that a stadium operating at 27,000 capacity is not economically sustainable.
The club and the city council are in positive talks, and it is understood that all deficiencies noted by council technicians in recent weeks have been resolved.
The council has indicated that the licence is in its final stages and could be issued today, paving the way for a phased return of fans.
Once phase 1B is completed, the Lateral stand will open, increasing capacity to 45,000, making a return financially viable.
Until then, Barcelona are carefully balancing the excitement of returning home with practical and economic considerations, ensuring the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou is both safe and sustainable.
Luis de la Fuente, Head Coach of Spain
Luis de la Fuente, Head Coach of Spain