BARCELONA
Barça learn from Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu troubles
Madrid’s recent difficulties with the stadium have put the Catalan club on alert.
Unlike other clubs, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona are not planning for the operation of their new stadium to revolve around hosting many concerts. While it’s true that some concerts will take place at the Spotify Camp Nou, they will be carefully selected and held outside the regular football season.
“When we designed the new Spotify Camp Nou, we considered concerts as a possibility, but they were never intended to be a central feature of the renovation,” explained Barcelona’s Institutional Vice President, Elena Fort, adding “concerts cannot be held during the season. Historically, the stadium has hosted large-scale events, but only during the off-season or outside of league competitions.”
When will Barcelona’s ‘new’ Spotify Camp Nou be opened?
This decision remains in place despite the improved acoustics, as highlighted by Joan Sentelles, director of operations for Espai Barça: “The acoustic control model has been enhanced, ensuring noise pollution will be lower than at the previous stadium.”
Fort also provided an update on the timeline for the stadium’s reopening, stating that the club aim to have the new Spotify Camp Nou ready for use by the end of the year. However, she noted that the return may be delayed because UEFA regulations prevent Barcelona from playing their final Champions League match of January, against Atalanta on January 29, at the new venue.
Consequently, the first match at the stadium is expected to be pushed back, as the club are reluctant to maintain two stadiums simultaneously due to the high costs involved. Barcelona have therefore extended its use of the Montjuïc Stadium until March 31.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also navigating the complexities of stadium renovations at the Santiago Bernabéu. In September, the club decided to postpone all scheduled concerts until March 2025, providing time to adapt the stadium to new noise regulations and address concerns raised by local residents.
Though concerts form an important part of Real Madrid’s stadium revenue model, they are just one aspect. Corporate events, particularly those involving major multinational companies, have been highly lucrative, offering substantial profit margins and aligning with the club’s broader financial strategy.