Barcelona treasurer admits the club should have rebuilt Camp Nou 'years ago' and explains why renovated stadium is so important

Barcelona have officially received the green light to reopen the Camp Nou after months of delays, with the city council approving the Phase 1A occupancy permit that allows 27,000 spectators inside the renovated stadium. However, the club have opted to remain at the Lluis Companys in Montjuic for now, prioritising financial logic over nostalgia. According to club sources, it makes little sense to return to a partially reopened Camp Nou when Montjuic's larger capacity currently yields higher matchday revenue.

The decision comes amid a crucial period for Barcelona's Espai Barca project, which continues to be one of the most ambitious infrastructural undertakings in European football. The club plans to eventually host 47,000 fans under Phase 1B, a step that would also allow UEFA approval for Champions League matches at the new stadium. Vice President Elena Fort has suggested that a grand return could coincide with the club’s 126th anniversary in late November, calling it "an ideal moment" for the homecoming.

While many supporters were disappointed by the extended stay at Montjuic, the board insists that patience now will lead to much greater financial and sporting stability in the long term. The delay also allows more time for structural checks and technical validation of the renovated areas, ensuring the safety and quality standards required by both local and European authorities.

Barcelona treasurer Olive acknowledged during the General Assembly that the club had left it far too long to modernise its iconic home: "We should have built this stadium years ago; we're late. And we're doing it so we can compete with the best clubs in the world. We have €175 million ($204m) in stadium revenue [for 2024-25], and without doing anything, without building a new stadium, we'd be at €250m ($291m)[at Camp Nou], but we can reach €400m ($466m)wtih the new stadium."

It underlines the project's vital role in the club's economic recovery. His remarks echoed those of  president Laporta, who described the new Spotify Camp Nou as a symbol of both unity and ambition.

"Spotify Camp Nou…it is the collective dream of Barcelona fans and the legacy that future generations will have," Laporta said. "We have had the courage to reactivate this project that had been put on hold. The members have to see this dream come true and have to live it. We have worked tirelessly to obtain the permits from the city council that would allow us to return to the stadium. This permit arrived and I would like to extend a warm congratulations."

Both Olive and Laporta reinforced that Espai Barca is about more than bricks and revenue, rather a statement of identity. The new stadium is intended not only to compete financially with Europe's elite, but also to preserve the club's essence by keeping the heart of FC Barcelona rooted in its historic home.

The Espai Barca project, valued at nearly €1 billion ($1.17bn), has been one of the most scrutinised initiatives in Barcelona's modern history. Its construction contract was controversially awarded to Turkish firm Limak, despite the company reportedly scoring lowest in a technical evaluation against Spanish competitors Ferrovial and FCC. Limak's proposal demanded an upfront payment of roughly €200m ($233m) compared to just €12m ($14m) from other bidders, raising concerns about transparency and long-term financing. Club officials have since defended the decision, stating that Limak's plan best met the deadlines imposed by UEFA and the local government for completion.

The goal remains to transform Spotify Camp Nou into a state-of-the-art football and entertainment complex capable of generating consistent revenue year-round. The finished structure will serve as the crown jewel of the Espai Barca ecosystem, which also includes a new Palau Blaugrana arena and improved training facilities.

Off the pitch, Barcelona have strengthened their commercial backbone through an extended partnership with Spotify. The renewed agreement keeps the streaming giant as the club's primary sponsor until 2030 and extends naming rights for the stadium until 2034, ensuring consistent income during the reconstruction phase. The collaboration has been hailed as a perfect fusion of football and global entertainment culture.

With the city council's Phase 1A permit secured, Barcelona are now focused on receiving the more expansive Phase 1B approval, which would allow 47,000 fans to attend matches at the renovated Camp Nou. Club vice president Elena Fort remains optimistic, stressing that the process is mainly administrative and that the works themselves are already complete.

Once approved, the club's long-awaited return could coincide with a marquee fixture around its November anniversary. Financially, the coming months will be decisive. The club aims to capitalise on future stadium revenues, expected to jump from €175m to as much as €400m annually once the venue is fully operational. That increase could be transformative for Barcelona, who are still recovering from years of financial turmoil and strict La Liga spending controls.