Millions flee from FC Barcelona! Joan Laporta can't avoid it, the reason is frightening

The reopening of Spotify Camp Nou is becoming a real headache for Joan Laporta. A few days ago, it was expected that the team could return to Camp Nou at the end of the month for a La Liga match against Real Sociedad. That won't be possible either; the return date to the stadium is once again invalidated, as Barcelona City Council has denied the first occupancy license for safety reasons.

As a result, obtaining the first occupancy license, which is necessary to welcome fans, will take longer than expected. The Barcelona City Council has confirmed that the stadium still doesn't meet the necessary safety requirements for its reopening. Barça has activated an emergency plan and has decided to use Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys until the end of February 2026. 

Camp Nou will remain closed until further notice until the safety deficiencies pointed out by municipal technicians to the blaugrana club are corrected. The initial capacity of 27,000 spectators (27,000) is on hold until it can be clearly shown that the entrances, exits, and signage meet the required standards. According to the City Council's technicians, the shortcomings affect the stadium's evacuation, emergency vehicle accessibility, and exit signage.

Montjuïc, a ruin for Barça

In this situation, Barça's board has indicated that the Olímpic will be the venue for the team's next two matches. Next Sunday, the 28th of this month, against Real Sociedad in La Liga, and on October 1 against PSG in the Champions League. The return to Montjuïc is a logistical and financial headache for the club.

Although the capacity of the Olímpic with 50,000 fans (50,000) exceeds the 27,000 (27,000) of phase A of Camp Nou, the rental of the stadium and its adaptations are a ruin for Barça. On average, the club pays the City Council half a million euros per match to play at Montjuïc. Lluís Companys has had to change the field again to host Barça's next two matches.

The impact of the Olímpic on blaugrana finances

Besides the rental of Montjuïc and the cost derived from keeping one stadium open and another under construction, the return to Camp Nou is key in financial fair play. It should be noted that the sale of VIP seats, about 100 million euros, still doesn't have the approval of the blaugrana auditor and La Liga. 

The reason is simple: the auditor Crowe Spain has only recorded 58 million (58,000,000) received because the seats are not yet operational. For the auditor to record the total amount of the operation, the seats need to be enabled. With this income, Barça will operate again under the 1:1 rule, and once phase B (45,000 spectators[45,000]) is completed, they will be able to play Champions League matches at Camp Nou.