Barcelona aims to transform Spotify Camp Nou into a formidable fortress for rival teams as they gear up for crucial matches in LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League. They’ve received authorization to raise the stadium’s capacity to 62,652.
Since reoccupying the stadium in November, Barça has been limited to 45,000 fans due to two tiers behind one goal remaining vacant while awaiting council approval to open the Gol Nord stand.
This week, that approval has come through, and the Gol Nord is now ready to welcome fans for the upcoming matches against Sevilla in LaLiga on Sunday and Newcastle United in the Champions League on Wednesday.
ESPN has secured an exclusive first look at the latest upgrades at Europe’s largest stadium.
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What’s new at Camp Nou?
After two years at the Olympic Stadium due to a €1.5 billion renovation, Barça returned to Spotify Camp Nou last November, but the atmosphere was lacking as the Lamine Yamal scored with an empty Gol Nord in the background.
With safety checks now completed, an additional 17,000 fans can fill the stadium as Barça strives to defend their LaLiga title, holding a four-point advantage over Real Madrid, and aim for their first Champions League victory since 2015.
The increased capacity will enhance the visual experience for spectators and viewers, but the most crucial update is the reopening of the Grada d’Animació, the singing section, located at the opposite end in the Gol Sur.
This section, accommodating approximately 1,200 fans, will welcome attendees during the Sevilla match. The club anticipates that the energy from this section will elevate the entire stadium atmosphere, especially during the critical match against Newcastle, where the round-of-16 tie is currently tied at 1-1.
“This makes a significant difference,” Barça director Joan Sentelles told ESPN regarding the capacity expansion and the reopening of the singing section. “Having the Grada d’Animació open is crucial.
“We expect them to rally behind the team and inspire the other fans in attendance to unite in support.
Now this place can truly become the pressure cooker we’re aiming for to assist the team.”
What’s still to come?
Spotify Camp Nou will feel more whole with all four stands filled, yet there remains much work ahead to complete the renovations.
The third tier is yet to be finished. After its completion, work will begin on the roof, which is expected to take up to four months. Sentelles estimates the entire project won’t be completed until 2028, in preparation for 2030 FIFA World Cup matches.
The plan includes opening the third tier in three or four phases, but the timeline for each section’s readiness depends on council approval. Additionally, modern amenities need to be added to the currently bare concourses, and the VIP areas require fine-tuning.
Upon its completion, Camp Nou will regain its title as Europe’s largest stadium, accommodating around 105,000 spectators—15,000 more than Wembley and over 20,000 more than the redeveloped Bernabéu in Madrid.
“I am eager to see it finished,” Sentelles expressed. “This venue is destined to be a pressure cooker, even more so once the roof is added.
“The enhancements in the third tier, particularly in terms of accessibility and comfort, are substantial compared to what existed before. We will have food and beverage outlets, lifts, escalators—it’s incredible.
“This stadium is a vast improvement. Objectively, it surpasses what we had, and I genuinely look forward to seeing it full and hearing the thunderous support for the team.”