Barcelona is feeling optimistic following the official granting of the first occupancy permit for Phase 1A of the Spotify Camp Nou renovation by the Barcelona City Council.
This permit permits 27,000 fans to attend matches, specifically in the Tribuna and Gol sections of the stadium.
The approval came after the club addressed the issues pointed out by city officials a few weeks earlier, allowing for a cautious return to their revitalized venue.
While this news is encouraging, it’s important to remember that Phase 1A is just a portion of the overall project.
The complete return of fans will hinge on the approval of Phase 1B, which would raise the spectator capacity to 47,000.
On the topic, Barcelona’s vice president and head of the Espai Barça project, Elena Fort, stated (h/t AS):
“We are hopeful that Phase 1B, which will host 47,000 spectators, will be approved soon, as the construction work is complete. It’s now just a matter of obtaining permits and project validation, which should be simpler than what was needed for the earlier phase.”
When will Barcelona return to Spotify Camp Nou?
The club is targeting a potential reopening around mid-November, with the crucial home match against Athletic Club expected to take place on either November 22 or 23, right after the international break.
In the meantime, Barcelona will hold their home games at Montjuïc, hosting matches against Girona, Olympiacos, and Elche.
To ensure that fans can still attend during this transition, Barça has already activated the 2025-26 season pass, which will be valid for matches at both Montjuïc and the Spotify Camp Nou as renovations progress.
The club remains optimistic that once Phase 1B is approved, a greater number of fans will be able to enjoy matches in the updated stadium.
After navigating through numerous challenges and delays, Barcelona and its supporters finally see a promising path ahead.