Barcelona expect third-tier of Camp Nou to open by autumn 2026; could lead to €27m revenue boost | OneFootball

The renovation of the Spotify Camp Nou has been one of the most pioneering projects Joan Laporta has overseen during his recent presidency.

While it did result in a brief dip in revenue owing to the change in location, it is expected to generate massive revenue gains in the long-term.

Midway through last season, Barcelona officially returned to the grand venue and began hosting home games at the venue again.

It began with a resounding win over Athletic Club, and they were virtually unbeatable at the venue over the course of the season.

In ordered phases, the club gradually increased the capacity of the venue for the fans given that the work is being carried out in predefined stages.

Barcelona returned to Camp Nou last year. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

With the venue not hosting games in close to two months now, the work has been ongoing at a rapid rate at the Spotify Camp Nou regardless.

Significance progress

As relayed by MARCA in a recent report, the venue is now beginning to take shape as the grand stadium it is proposed to be with the work on the third tier now officially completed.

The foundation to increasing the capacity and making the stadium larger has thus been completed and only finishing works and seat installations remain. Once that is done, the club can officially open the stands and begin benefiting from the improved capacity.

As matters stand, there is hope that this section of the stands can be opened for public use by autumn this year, and the club expect to generate an annual revenue boost of €27 million once it is open.

The reopening will be in sectors once again, only after all required permissions are obtained. If everything goes to plan, the main grandstand (Tribuna section) is also expected to open by December 2026 or January 2027.

Work is progressing on the third tier. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

The status of the roof

One of the most technically challenging aspects of Barcelona’s renovation of the stadium is the new roof which is to be installed, and the placement of the roof requires a supporting ring called the ‘compression ring.’

The report further adds that only a small section of this compression ring is currently visible and that work is currently ongoing to install it at the earliest. After all, it will determine a large part of how the stadium’s final look comes out.

Currently, the installation of the roof itself is expected to begin in the summer of 2027, and the club will have to shift back to Montjuic for a period of six months at the time owing to safety concerns.

The said shifting will thus likely take place at the beginning of the 2027-28 season, although everything will depend on how far work progresses as per the plan.