The institutional vice-president of FC Barcelona and the head of the Espai Barça project, Elena Fort, revealed the team’s return date to the new Spotify Camp Nou in an interview with Mundo Deportivo.
As construction of the stadium began at the end of the previous season, Barcelona had to say farewell for the time being to their sacred home field.
The Blaugrana will be temporarily residing at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic for a minimum of one year.
There have been hints of a possible return to the refurbished Camp Nou by the end of the next year, and Elena Fort now appears to have given a specific date.
“29 November 2024 is the date for the first return of the fans, provided there are no unforeseen issues,” Fort said.
When asked what the ‘unforeseen issues’ would constitute, the vice-president replied: “A pandemic or a world catastrophe, something that, to be understood, would not be in the hands of Barça or the construction companies.”
Barcelona believe that the work on the stadium is proceeding at a very good pace and remain convinced that fans, approximately 65,000 in number, will be able to return to the stadium in the first phase in 2024.
The stadium’s official inauguration will take place when it is completely built in 2026, with a total capacity of 104,600 spectators.