Barcelona could delay opening of Camp Nou’s third tier until 2027 – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona may have to wait longer than expected before fully opening the third tier of the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, as construction delays continue to affect the stadium project.

The club had originally planned to begin opening sections of the upper tier later this year, but that timeline is now under review.

According to SPORT, Barcelona are studying a revised construction schedule that could push the opening of the third tier back until the end of the first quarter, or even the beginning of the second quarter, of 2027.

Full capacity target remains unchanged

The original plan was to make part of the third tier available in October before gradually opening additional sections from January onwards.

However, the latest projections now point to a launch between February and April 2027.

Despite that setback, Barcelona remain confident that the stadium will still reach its full capacity of 105,000 seats before the end of the 2026-27 season. The Camp Nou is currently operating with a reduced capacity of around 62,000 spectators.

One of the main reasons behind the delay is the inability to introduce a third construction shift. Local regulations designed to protect nearby residents from excessive noise have limited the pace of work.

The board is also expected to discuss an expansion of the financing package for the Espai Barca project, with an Extraordinary Assembly set to be scheduled for members to vote on the proposal.

Although Barcelona insist the overall project remains on course, any postponement to the third tier affects more than construction timelines.

Every additional seat represents valuable matchday income through ticket sales, hospitality and commercial activity. Operating below full capacity for longer than planned means the club will generate less stadium revenue during a crucial period of its financial recovery.

The positive news is that the long-term objective has not changed. Barcelona still expect to have all 105,000 seats available before the end of the season, even if supporters must wait a little longer for the upper tier to open.

The focus now will be on keeping the broader renovation on schedule. With another temporary move to Montjuic already planned for the start of the 2027-28 campaign while the stadium roof is installed, Barcelona can ill afford further significant delays to one of the club’s most important long-term projects.