FC Barcelona is reeling from the massive financial impact of delays in the Camp Nou renovation. The club had hoped to return to their historic stadium for both La Liga and Champions League matches, but initial timelines have been pushed back significantly.
Originally, the club aimed to be back by the end of 2024 or early 2025, but that date has now been postponed repeatedly over the past ten months.
This weekend’s match against Valencia will not take place at Camp Nou, as the club is still waiting for a final construction certificate from the Barcelona city council.
Instead, the game will be held at the Johan-Cruyff Stadium, with a maximum capacity of just 6,000 spectators, much to the frustration of Valencia’s players and fans alike. Diego Lopez, a forward for Valencia, expressed disbelief over the uncertainty of their match venue.
Financial Fallout from the Camp Nou Renovation Delays
The financial losses are staggering for the Catalan club. For this weekend alone, Barcelona is set to miss out on €2.43 million, the typical revenue from a match at the Olympic Stadium. Instead, the earnings for this event are expected to be around €370,000.
Organizing the match at a smaller venue will save some costs, but it pales in comparison to the profits generated in a larger stadium. Club president Joan Laporta acknowledged the dire financial implications of these delays, especially with contractual obligations to sponsors in play.
Starting in December, Barcelona will begin repaying the interest on a €1.45 billion loan taken out with Goldman Sachs for the stadium renovation. Although some repayment terms have been renegotiated, reports indicate that the €44 million in interest due this December remains unchanged.
Without a return to Camp Nou and the corresponding revenue, these financial pressures could become unbearable, especially as interest is expected to more than double to €94 million by December 2026.
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