Barcelona fans can now secure a place at new Camp Nou forever under unique memorial plans

Barcelona supporters will soon have the opportunity to secure a permanent place at the redeveloped Camp Nou, with the club introducing a unique memorial facility.

The project will feature 26,000 niches for supporters' ashes, with more than 1,000 fans already having reportedly reserved their place.

Camp Nou renovation to include unique memorial for fans

Named ‘Memorial FC Barcelona', the facility will allow supporters to have their ashes kept inside the stadium as part of the wider redevelopment project.

Prices start at €2,490 (£2,080) for a ten-year arrangement, rising to €6,000 (£5,015) for 50 years, with an annual maintenance fee of €70 (£59). Fans wanting a permanent niche will have to pay €10,000 (£8,350), with a further €490 (£410) required for a memorial plaque.

The facility, designed by architect Quique Montoya, will feature four large illuminated squares, with plaques displayed on a backlit glass wall and urns positioned behind a mural celebrating key moments from Barcelona's 125-year history.

Presenting the project, club institutional vice-president Maria Elena Fort explained the emotional significance behind the idea, via the Guardian.

“When my grandfather died many years ago, he said the only thing he wanted was to be buried next to Barça's pitch so that he could hear the goals go in during the afterlife. Many fans dream of the same thing,” she said.

Work on the memorial is scheduled to begin late next year, with proceeds contributing towards the enormous cost of redeveloping Camp Nou.

Barcelona originally budgeted €900m (£752m) for the stadium project, but the overall cost is now approaching €2bn (£1.67bn), with the expanded venue ultimately targeting a capacity of 105,000.

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It is certainly an unusual addition to a stadium redevelopment, but the memorial gives lifelong supporters an opportunity to maintain a connection with the club beyond their lifetime.

With 26,000 niches available and more than 1,000 bookings already reported, Barcelona have also identified another potential revenue stream to support the redevelopment.

It might not be a conventional stadium feature, but it is certainly a memorable way of celebrating the bond between the club and its supporters.