Work on third tier of Spotify Camp Nou to be brought forward to the break for the Qatar World Cup

FC Barcelona is to accelerate the remodeling work on the Spotify Camp Nou, the epicentre of Espai Barça, to take advantage of the break in the Liga schedule for the World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for the months of November and December.

The actions will consist of the demolition of the outer ring, the cantilever roof that protrudes from the façade of the South Goal (former site of the Asistencia Sanitaria medical centre), and half of the third tier of the same South Goal zone, part of which acts as a counterweight. The demolition will be done by traditional mechanical means, and the preliminary work to prepare the area will begin on September 1, with the dismantling of systems, facilities, catering areas, seats, accessories, railings, beams and the video scoreboard.

This will all save time in a complex, large-scale project and will be very useful to start verifying the processes and timeframes of the new construction, ahead of the period for the bulk of the work in the 2023/24 season, where games will be moved to the Lluís Companys Stadium, Montjuïc. Remodelling work on this part of the Spotify Camp Nou is a priority right now as this will be the entry point for all the telecommunications of the future stadium and where all the technological connections will be built, so this area needs to be ready before the rest of the work starts next season.

This work is scheduled to be completed by around December 31. In the coming weeks, the project will be tendered, the maximum cost of which will be 4.6 million euros and will be included within the framework of the bridging loan signed last summer.

Different effects 

The work will affect 3,782 seats in the South Goal zone, mainly in the third tier, which will disappear. 3,182 of these belong to season ticket holders, who will be relocated to similar areas or will be offered a temporary moratorium on the payment of their season ticket.

As for the second tier, 1,215 season ticket holders, sat between entrances 315 and 322, will go from having a covered seat to an uncovered seat and the club will adjust prices in compensation.

Six VIP boxes in the second tier will also be affected, which are usually used by visiting clubs.

The work will be concentrated between gates 34 and 46, with only some of the second and third tier entrances affected. In the second tier, these will be entrances 315 even numbered seats to 322 odd numbered seats - only between and including rows 34 to 37. In third tier, the work will affect entrances 521-522, and entrance 415 even numbered seats to entrance 422 odd numbered seats.

Once the partial demolition of the third tier is complete, pillars will be built, foundation work will be put in place, and new stairs and evacuation routes will be built to restore use of the first and second tier seats that will remain unaffected by the work.

Work already in progress

Although the partial demolition of the third tier of the South Goal will be the most important work to be carried out during the 2022/23 season, since July other actions are already being carried out in accordance with the building license approved at the end of April by the Governmental Commission of the City Council. This work affects both the exterior and interior of the Spotify Camp Nou, technological aspects, as well as the urban planning surrounding the stadium.

The systems and technology infrastructure (CPD) is currently being transferred to new technical rooms in areas that will not be affected by the construction and remodelling work on the future Spotify Camp Nou, such as the car park of the Barcelona Supporter Services Office (OAB) or the basement of the Auditori 1899. Likewise, work is being done together with the operators on the deployment of new connectivity in the stadium to minimise risk and the impact on members, fans, corporate services and technology applied to sport.

The warehouse of the Lateral grandstand on the lower floor of the OAB is also being moved, and certain jobs are being done on security in the third tier, placing protective netting and also making some repairs. All this work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Work on second phase of exterior planning

Meanwhile, work goes on around the stadium in relation to the Modification of the General Metropolitan Plan and the second phase of the work in Menéndez Pelayo has already begun. This is one of the many plans to develop the environs of the stadium in liaison with Barcelona City Council, as well as local organisations and residents to create a large open space around the stadium, remove the outer walls, level the terrain and renovate and widen the surrounding streets to reorganise road and pedestrian access.

With the reform of Menéndez Pelayo, more than 22,000 m2 will be modified, including the creation of 4,000 m2 of green areas There will be one traffic lane in each direction and a service lane, with wide pavements, including in the area by the cemetery that is currently not paved at all. New urban furniture will be installed, including 21 three-metre wooden benches and 16 sixty-centimetre wooden chairs, as well as a better and more energy-efficient street lighting system and 65 new trees.

Sustainable mobility with new bicycle lane

To promote sustainable mobility, a new bike lane will be built all the way to conect with the current one in Avinguda de Joan XXIII. It will also be extended as far as Plaza de Pius XII, thus connecting Menéndez Pelayo to Diagonal. Adaptations will also be made to the roundabout on Avinguda de Joan XXIII and Menéndez Pelayo to make it easier for vehicles, and a landscaped strip will be completed next to the Masía, thus completing the work on Joan XXIII.

Statement by the Vice President and Head of the Institutional Area, Elena Fort:

“We have decided to partially advance part of the work that were planned for the 2023/24 season, when we have to go to the Lluís Companys Stadium, and we will proceed by partially demolishing the third tier of the South Goal terraces.

This entails removing the back of the South Goal stand, as it acts as a counterweight, and also taking out a third of the third tier and also the video scoreboard. This affects a total of 3,782 seats, 3,182 of which are used by paying members. We are obviously concerned about this interruption, although it is ultimately for the sake of improvements, because it will help us streamline the construction processes and will also help us to get the overall project completed much more quickly.

Regarding the affected season ticket holders, what we have decided, is to allow for a temporary moratorium on payment of season tickets (for all those who wish to do so). Third tier season ticket holders will be relocated in the same third tier to similar or better seats, and the 1,215 second tier season ticket holders will pay less for their tickets to compensate for the absence of a roof."

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