When anyone hears the word Barcelona the first thing that comes to mind is football, or soccer as it’s called it in the states. FC Barcelona has been home to legends of the game such as Messi, Maradona, and Johan Cruyff all playing in their home, the Camp Nou.
When walking up to this stadium a wave of history hits you. It feels like something special. At any given point of the day, match day or not, fans will be gathered around taking pictures and telling stories about their time at the stadium and what the club means to them.
The stadium has a soul, almost even a heartbeat and it can be felt through the fans surrounding it some even describe it as a football pilgrimage.
Over time the Camp Nou Stadium has seen various iterations all while becoming the most iconic building in the entire city. Millions worldwide have flocked to this almost 100,000 seater stadium and in June 2022 it will undergo its newest facelift to welcome in a new generation of the beautiful game.
History
The stadium was designed by architects Francesc Mitjans Miró and Josep Soteras Mauri with a focus on its elegance. It is a club that expects beautiful football and wanted the stadium to match this energy.
The Camp Nou opened in 1957 after FC Barcelona moved from their Les Corts ground and it has been constantly evolving. It’s original capacity of 93,053 has been constantly shifting through various construction projects and is set to be 105,000 at the end of 2026.
Going to the Camp Nou is an experience beyond worlds for those who love the sport and even those who don’t love the game will still be in awe by this massive stadium. The three tier stadium commands respect the moment one walks in and is a sight you will never forget.
It is evident to see who is experiencing this legendary building for the first time. Kids and adults alike have a look of awe on their face some even in tears at the sight of this stadium. It holds so many memories for those who have supported the club their entire life.
With the club motto “Mes que un club” or “More than a club” in English spelt out by the yellow seats this saying is evident in the stadium. Unlike other forms of buildings stadiums inherently have unique souls. They hold stories that last generations, stories that stand the test of time, and will continue to make stories that will told for generations to come. The Camp Nou is one of these stadiums. From hosting the 1999 Champions League Final, Barcelonas 2017 comeback against PSG, countless El Clásicos, and memories told over generations, this stadium is history.
Modern Day Stadium
The current Camp Nou has beautiful sunsets, open viewing at almost every seat, and an atmosphere on large matchdays unlike any other. Fans pile into the stadium and many make it their lifelong dream just to step foot inside.
The atmosphere during games is created by the North End hooligans who live, eat, and breath the club. They sing their hearts out all game and never stop at any costs. They are the lifeblood of the stadium and power on the team.
The current Camp Nou in one word is simple. The stadium inside does not have many extravagant features, no modern scoreboard, no massive roof, and no extra parties outside like American stadiums. Instead, everything surrounds the pitch, the game is everything.
When walking into the stadium grounds many will be surprised that the grounds of the Camp Nou also host the Palau Blaugrana home to the Barcelona basketball team, an ice hockey rink for the ice hockey team, plenty of restaurants, and a club museum open for tours every day of the week.
The Camp Nou is truly a sporting facility rather than just another stadium.
This can be seen in the various stadium tours that are given every day of the week. The club museum and various other facilities are a sight to behold and beyond belief for any football fan.
The issue is that Camp Nou is not able to compete with all the new stadiums popping up all over Europe.
Hector Meza a worker in the FC Barcelona club shop admits “The outside is ugly and nothing special and the inside isn’t like the new stadiums. We need something to impress the world. Barcelona is special and we deserve a special home”
The Refurbishment
The refurbishment will include a beautiful glass ceiling and modern scoreboards to elevate the game experience. It is in line with American stadiums and those such as Athletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano, Real Madrid’s refurbished Santiago Bernabeau, and Tottenham Hotspurs state of the art stadium.
The new stadium will sit over 100,000 fans for every game. The current basketball and hockey arena will also be completely renovated along with the club store.
This is not just a football project instead a sporting and cultural one that Barcelona deserve.
When talking to fan Hudson da Paz he says “This is what Barcelona needs. Without Messi this will bring us to the top. It is a building that defines us. We are the best and we need to show this to the world.”
There is also a growing concern over seating. The Camp Nou is massive, and it is an issue. Games do not always sell out and tourists are not necessarily welcomed by the home support. Fans are worries that a further expansion will take the life out of the Camp Nou and hurt the gameday experience.
Club member Theo Cremona discussed “The current Camp Nou is empty. Messi took the life of the stadium with him. Renovating the stadium is needed, but is expansion good? We do not need tourists. We cannot become too expensive for local. We are the club, and we must support. I am excited for a new home, but worried for our future.”
With the millions of dollars of debt surrounding Barcelona this massive project is a hot topic for debate amongst locals. Many favor the expansion, but many traditional fans want to hold on to their memories of the ground. Even calling the Camp Nou the Spotify Camp Nou is not sitting well with many fans.
FC Barcelona deserves to compete at the highest level on and off the pitch, and this stadium is one way to do so. Giving the city a new crown jewel to enjoy will give the city pride and expected to finish construction by 2026.
Football has become more than just the sport. Looking at the stadium architecture around the world a delicate balance between respecting tradition and modernization must be met and there is no better example than the current events of the Camp Nou.
Comments