Barcelona’s ambitious redevelopment of Camp Nou is gaining momentum as new video footage showcases heavy machinery dismantling sections of the iconic stadium.
The Espai Barça project, which has encountered delays, finally commenced last month with a special event organized by the club to commemorate the initiation of the stadium’s renovation. As part of the ceremony, a time capsule was buried before the pitch was swiftly dug up.
The primary focus of the current phase of work is the demolition of the third tier, along with other sections set to be dismantled, while attention is also being given to the foundations.
In a video captured by local sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Monday morning, numerous cranes can be seen excavating various sections of a stand, creating piles of rubble on the ground below.
During this redevelopment phase, Barcelona will temporarily relocate from Camp Nou and host home games at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in the Montjuic neighborhood during the 2023/24 season. This historic venue previously hosted the 1992 Olympics and was the home ground of Espanyol until 2009.
The comprehensive redevelopment of Camp Nou is projected to conclude by 2026. However, Barcelona is expected to return to the stadium earlier, resuming games with a reduced capacity while the construction work continues. The initial agreement to play at Montjuic extends until May 2024.
Since its completion in 1957, Camp Nou has been the cherished home of Barcelona. Despite encountering a three-year construction period and significant cost overruns, the stadium has played a pivotal role in the club’s history. Prior to Camp Nou, Barcelona spent 35 years at Camp de Les Corts. The decision to move to a new venue was prompted by the lack of space for expansion, despite previous capacity increases that culminated in its peak of 60,000 spectators.
