Barcelona's return to Camp Nou for the 2024/25 season El Clasico spectacle will not happen.
Financial challenges have slowed Camp Nou redevelopment even as the club races against time to return home just in time for the 2025/26 season.
The Catalans continue to bear the cost of playing at Olimpic Lluis Companys, which is €100 million yearly. According to Spanish sources, the earliest possible return date to Camp Nou will be September 2025, a few weeks into the 95th La Liga season.
Financial challenges are largely to blame
Dwindling revenue is at the centre of Barcelona's delayed Camp Nou return. Financial fair play penalties after a summer spending spree and stadium redevelopment loans have worsened the already dire situation. An estimated €1.45 billion for Camp Nou renovation, which includes a reported €815 million from Goldman Sachs, has greatly strained the club's finances.
Despite cutting the player wage bill by up to 25% to cut costs, the club recently reported a €91 million net loss.
Football Benchmark reported that as of June 2024, Barca's loan obligations stood at €1.3 billion, €585 million of which will be due by 2028. It adds that Barcelona has the most debt of any European football club.
Most recently, a report by Deportivo Mundo indicated that delays in shipping building material and a lack of qualified labour in some areas of the Camp Nou renovation project have forced the club to postpone the May return date.
✅| OFFICIAL: Work on Camp Nou's renovation is progressing, with preparations for the pitch beginning next week after completing drainage, ventilation, and heating installations. Over 3,500 people are working on the new roof, VIP seats, and advanced systems for matchdays. pic.twitter.com/kkf5kHqqhR
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) April 18, 2025
Expanded Camp Nou is expected to improve the club's revenue situation
The Olympic Stadium is a 54,000-capacity venue, at least 40,000 seats less than Camp Nou. It means the Catalans have been generating less revenue from ticket sales since their last match at Camp Nou on 28 May 2023.
A renovated Camp Nou is expected to improve the club's financial situation. Upon completion, the stadium will become the biggest in Europe, thanks to an expanded capacity of 105,000.
It will have 9,600 VIP seats, five times more than currently available. Further, the club notes that at least 60% of the VIP seats will cost €81,000 a season, up from the current €12,000. With these changes, Barcelona projects at least €350 million in yearly revenue.