Some have already compared Camp Nou to the Sagrada Família. Not because of any architectural similarity, but because of the seemingly endless length of the works. The renovation of Barcelona’s stadium will in fact require much more time. The club began the redevelopment in the summer of 2023, with the promise of completing it three years later, in 2026. As things stand, however, there is still a long way to go. The deadline has already been pushed back to the start of 2028.
Even though Barcelona officially inaugurated the new Camp Nou on 22 November against Athletic Bilbao, several works remain unfinished, including the roof, the external façade, the third tier, all VIP areas and most of the parking facilities. According to Marca, these works will require a further €400 million in spending.
For Barcelona, completing the stadium as soon as possible is essential, both in terms of image and finances. To give an idea: current maximum capacity is around 62,000, while once completed the stadium will be able to hold 105,000 spectators. A significant difference, also in revenue terms. The club will likely need to request a new loan to complete the redevelopment. Additional financing could even exceed that amount, given the current global uncertainty over raw material costs.
Barcelona had already taken out a loan from Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest and most influential investment banks, to fund the renovation of the stadium and the surrounding area, worth €1.5 billion. The club had decided not to invest its own capital in the project, instead fully financing it through external debt. To cover this extra €400 million cost, the club will need to put the matter to a vote at the shareholders’ assembly to obtain approval. One option would be to include it on the agenda of the General Assembly where the new Board of Directors will be ratified.
What is certain is that Barcelona are in a hurry. They want to complete the works as soon as possible and open the gates to the more than 100,000 people who will fill Camp Nou for every match.