Rush to return to Camp Nou: Barcelona facing €138m bill in next 16 months and loss of €15m | OneFootball

Barcelona have delayed the return of Camp Nou on four occasions now, having initially predicted that they would be back in their home stadium after renovation work in November of 2024. Now nearly ten months on, Barcelona are unable to guarantee when they will return.

Their plan is to return first with 27,000 fans, then 45,000 and finally 60,000 fans. Once the third tier is complete – originally scheduled for the start of next season, the capacity will be 105,000. Barcelona’s desperation to return is not simply to begin earning more matchday income from Camp Nou again, rather than playing at Montjuic, but by commitments to investors.

Barcelona’s €138m bill from Goldman Sachs

Although Barcelona have renegotiated to delay the beginning of their loan repayments to Goldman Sachs until 2033, but still have to pay the interest on those repayments. Cadena SER say that the cost this December will come in at €44m, and in December of 2026, will rise to €94m.

Image via FC Barcelona

In addition, Barcelona also have an agreement with Goldman Sachs for VIP seats, which was guaranteed to be ready for the first of January – some of which in the third tier which has not yet been started. Barcelona are negotiating to alter this contract.

Spotify can terminate naming rights contract with Barcelona depending on delays

One of the main issues with Barcelona playing away from Camp Nou is that they are missing out on crucial earnings too. It is not just the matchday income, but also their Spotify naming rights deal, which was supposed to bring in €20m per season for a period of 20 years.

With the stadium not in use currently, that figure drops to just €5m per year. Only once the stadium is complete and with 90% of the seats are in use (94,500), will they again pay the full amount, with all of their advertising spaces active. If Barcelona do not manage to secure that return by the first of July 2028, then Spotify have it in their power to unilaterally terminate the naming rights deal.

Institutional Vice-President Elena Fort has declared that constructors Limak are not directly responsible for any of the delays, but increasingly the pressure is on Barcelona to be back at Camp Nou on and off the pitch. The Blaugrana have secured the use of Montjuic until February should they need it.