Barcelona President Joan Laporta makes prediction on Camp Nou third tier | OneFootball

Barcelona President Joan Laporta has predicted that fans will be able to use the third tier of Spotify Camp Nou at the start of next season. The current work is approaching a two-year delay, with Barcelona seemingly under pressure to ensure the stadium is complete by 2028.

The Blaugrana finally received the licence to reopen the stadium to a capacity of 27,000 fans in October, but are awaiting a second licence to increase that capacity to 45,000 spectators. Until that date, Barcelona will continue to play at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys at Montjuic. Previously Laporta has predicted that their return to Camp Nou will take place on the 22nd or 29th of November.

“The stadium is constantly evolving. We’ll play as soon as possible. I like to set dates to add pressure; that’s what was stipulated in the construction contract, but there are always unforeseen circumstances. Of course, it’s ready to play; we can do it with 27,000 people. Hansi got goosebumps, and the players were blown away,” he told Catalunya Radio in an interview.

Laporta claims third tier will be ready next summer

The club are under significant financial pressure to have the stadium completed by 2028, with their naming rights deal with Spotify under threat if this is not the case. Laporta predicted the third tier would be ready to reopen in August of 2026, also hinting that the €100m VIP boxes deal will only come into full operation then.

Image via Alberto Estevez/EFE

“They are progressing at a very good pace. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, the third tier will be operational by the beginning of next season, as will the VIP boxes, which are very important for the stadium’s refinancing.”

Laporta ignores criticism of delays

Camp Nou is predicted to be one of the main earners for Barcelona once complete, but the delays have added strain to the club’s burgeoning financial debt situation, currently set around €1.5b.

“It was 15 years ago we started talking about it, and then nothing was done,” Laporta commented. “When we arrived, we believed it had to be done to be able to compete at a high level, and that’s what we’ve done. I think it was done quite quickly, in two and a half years. I don’t want to get into details on the Norman Foster project [one of the alternative proposals]. It’s turned out quite well, also in Montjuïc.”

In terms of the criticism the club have faced, not only for significant delays to the work, but also for setting deadlines that have been missed, Laporta ignored it.

“I don’t like to look back; now the stadium is a reality. The Barcelona fans were the ones who encouraged us because they knew it had to be done. There are many Barca fans who ask us if they can have the experience of watching a Barca match at Spotify Camp Nou. I would work with Limak again, for sure. These are situations that have arisen, that we have overcome, and Limak has been key to overcoming them. It’s a project they’ve embraced; they are the first ones who are very enthusiastic and interested in its success.”

Over the course of the project, Barcelona and Limak have also faced criticism from workers’ unions for their treatment of employees.

“We demand that current legislation is followed. So far, there haven’t been any incidents among the workers, no irreversible accidents; it’s the most important construction project in Southern Europe. We’ve always been very careful with this; they wanted to use more workers, but due to regulations it hasn’t been possible. If there are any issues, they will be resolved where appropriate, but I’m happy with Limak.”