September 18 – Barcelona have added Telefónica to the growing commercial roster around its Espai Barça project, signing a five-year agreement covering connectivity services at the rebuilt Spotify Camp Nou.
The Spanish telecoms group is now an Official Partner of Espai Barça and will in return provide technology across the stadium as the club continues the phased remontada to its redeveloped home.
Telefónica will also take one of the many executive boxes at the club’s new-look 105,000-seater fortress and put its name to one of the new lounge areas being built inside the stadium.
The agreement lands at a useful moment for the Catalan club, who have spent much of the past week outlining the financial case behind Espai Barça. It was announced on Wednesday that the club’s members are being asked to approve further financing around the project, while the club itself is forecasting a major increase in stadium-generated revenue once Camp Nou is fully operational.
Bringing another large Spanish brand directly into the stadium project gives Barcelona another commercial partner tied specifically to that future rather than simply to the football team.
Barça president Joan Laporta said: “This agreement with Telefónica brings to Espai Barça a leading technology and telecommunications company that understands the scale and ambition of the project. This partnership will allow us to continue working towards an increasingly connected and innovative Spotify Camp Nou and will help us offer the best possible experiences to our members and fans in general.”
Telefónica were quick to point out how the deal also strengthens their long-standing presence in Catalonia.
Telefónica España chairman Borja Ochoa said: “Telefónica is reaffirming its institutional role as a driving force in the Spanish economy, its support for culture and sport, and its commitment to Catalonia and the city of Barcelona. Last year, Telefónica invested 121 million euros in Catalonia, where it employs more than one thousand people.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at harry.ewing@insideworldfootball.com