Raphinha, Barcelona player
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Barcelona’s transformation of the Spotify Camp Nou is already enormous, but the numbers behind the finished stadium reveal just how ambitious the club’s project really is.
The Catalan club took a major risk by beginning the renovation of their stadium at a time when their finances were at an all-time low.
However, Joan Laporta was able to see the long-term picture and how the additional capacity and modernised stadium could help Barça in the long run.
According to AS, the completely renovated Camp Nou is expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2028.
The final capacity will reach 105,000, while the overall project is expected to cost around €1.8 billion.
The scale of the new Camp Nou
The most striking feature still to come is the roof.
It will cover 48,000 square metres and require a compression ring consisting of 92 columns and approximately 3,200 tonnes of steel.
Another 3,500 tonnes will be required for cables, masts, lighting and other components.
Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona stadium
Barcelona are currently in the process of renovating the stadium. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Around 18,000 seats will temporarily have to be removed for the roof installation process, helping explain why Barça have decided against opening the third tier this season.
That third tier alone will eventually accommodate more than 35,000 supporters and rise approximately 80 metres above the pitch.
Sustainability is another significant element. Around 18,000 square metres of photovoltaic panels will be incorporated into the roof, alongside rainwater collection and geothermal systems.
A stadium designed to transform Barça’s income
For Barcelona, this project has been about more than just capacity.
The club expect the new stadium to generate approximately €350 million more, making commercial areas crucial to the entire operation.
Around 33,000 square metres have been allocated to two VIP rings containing 9,400 premium seats, 3.5 times the hospitality capacity of the old stadium.
Barça recently estimated approximately €700 million in committed revenue from 2,000 new long-term VIP licences.
Around 5,000 premium seats had already been commercialized, representing more than €380 million in committed income.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta
Joan Garcia has taken a massive gamble with the Espai Barca project. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
The new museum will occupy another 2,645 square metres, while the stadium’s connectivity infrastructure is being designed to serve more than 100,000 people simultaneously.
There will also be 5G coverage from three companies and approximately 3,500 screens. These figures explain why completing the Camp Nou is so important to Barcelona’s future.
For Barça, the ultimate success of this €1.8 billion gamble will be measured both in terms of atmosphere and what the stadium can earn.
It remains to be seen how the renovated Camp Nou looks in its full glory in the 2029 season or slightly later.
Joan Laporta, Barcelona president
Joan Laporta, Barcelona president
Diego Kochen of FC Barcelona
Diego Kochen of FC Barcelona