Camp Nou return: Some services to remain unavailable even when stadium reopens | OneFootball

Barcelona fans are eagerly awaiting the return to the iconic Spotify Camp Nou, which is expected to host its first official game in mid-September.

La Liga has already agreed to host Barcelona’s first few matches away from home just so the club get the additional time to make Camp Nou match-ready.

The return will begin with a reduced-capacity pilot test during the Joan Gamper Trophy. From there, Barça will gradually resume hosting matches at the renovated stadium.

Camp Nou won’t be fully operational

However, a recent report from Diario SPORT has highlighted that the stadium will still be under construction when it reopens, and several key services will not be fully operational.

While the lower levels, specifically the first and second stands, will be open to the public, fans should expect an experience very different from the fully completed Camp Nou.

Among the biggest changes is the incomplete infrastructure. The club has confirmed that elevators inside the stadium will not be operational when the ground reopens.

Camp Nou won’t be working at full capacity even after it reopens. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

These will only become functional at a much later stage of construction, which means accessibility may be limited for some fans during the initial months.

The final turf installation is scheduled to take place in mid-July, giving the ground staff a couple of months to prepare the pitch for competitive matches.

While the playing surface should be ready in time, other areas of the stadium will remain a work in progress.

Construction on the third tier is expected to be well advanced by September, although it won’t yet be accessible to the public.

On the other hand, the VIP section near the Player Zone and the exit tunnel that leads from the dressing room to the pitch, complete with a fan viewing platform, are expected to be ready.