Barcelona‘s training facility experienced structural damage on Thursday, prompting a temporary halt to renovation work at Spotify Camp Nou and forcing the team to travel to Madrid a day earlier than planned as fierce winds hit Catalonia.
A wall at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, adjacent to a public road, collapsed after the surrounding fencing gave way.
Fortunately, the club reported that there were no injuries from the incident, and the area has been secured with the road closed as restoration efforts for the wall and fencing continue.
Additionally, work on the exterior of Camp Nou, which is projected to be completed by at least late 2027, was paused for the day. However, activities inside the stadium were confirmed to still be ongoing by a club source.
The anticipated extreme winds had already altered Barça’s schedule for the Thursday match in the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atlético Madrid (LIVE on the ESPN App), with the team opting to fly to Madrid a day early on Wednesday.
This decision was proven wise as many flights and trains departing Barcelona were canceled due to the strong winds; ACN reported that gusts exceeded 100 km/h (62 mph).
By midday, more than 60 individuals had sustained injuries related to the weather, with over 20 hospitalized, while various buildings and trees across the city were damaged.
Barcelona’s training ground, located in Sant Joan Despí on the outskirts of the city, was confirmed to have been affected by the adverse weather, as the club stated later on Thursday.
“The training ground incurred structural damage due to severe winds, including the collapse of a section of wall and perimeter fence along Francesc Macià road, situated between Pitch 3 and the women’s first team training area,” the club noted.
“No injuries have been reported. Teams have arrived on-site to ensure the affected area’s safety and assess the damage.” The club added that the damaged section of the road would remain closed to both traffic and pedestrians for safety reasons.
Similarly, work on the Camp Nou exterior was also halted for safety precautions. Barça, which returned to play at Camp Nou in November after nearly two years away, had originally planned to resume in 2024 but shifted the return at the end of last year due to several delays in renovations.
Currently, they are operating with a reduced capacity of around 45,000, as one stand behind one of the goals remains closed. However, they anticipate obtaining a permit soon to increase attendance to over 62,000.
Once renovations are complete, expected by the end of 2027, the stadium’s full capacity will be 105,000.
Barça arrived in Madrid shortly after midnight on Wednesday, having initially scheduled their flight for Thursday, as the LaLiga leaders aim to gain an early advantage in the Copa del Rey semifinal before the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.