FC Barcelona Unveils the New Spotify Camp Nou in Key Step of €1.5 Billion Espai Barça Project.

Roger Hampel

Image: FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona has officially reopened the Spotify Camp Nou, marking the first public event at the redeveloped stadium after nearly 900 days of closure. More than 21,795 fans filled the stands for an open training session that celebrated the return to one of world football’s most iconic venues. The event — part test, part celebration — offered supporters their first look at the new stadium, a key milestone in the ongoing Espai Barça redevelopment project.

A Milestone Moment in Espai Barça FC Barcelona Camp Nou

The open training session, attended by first-team players and coaching staff, marked the first time the ball rolled again at the new Spotify Camp Nou since the redevelopment began. All proceeds from the €5 ticket sales were donated to the FC Barcelona Foundation’s Polseres Blaugranes project, underlining the event’s community focus.

The event also demonstrated the progress of the Espai Barça project, one of Europe’s most ambitious sports infrastructure programs. The club currently holds a first-phase occupancy licence for 25,991 spectators, with Phase 1B approval expected soon, which would lift capacity to more than 45,000.

While work continues on upper-tier sections and concourses, the facility already showcases significant upgrades in architecture, technology, accessibility, and fan experience.

Club president Joan Laporta described the venue as “an architectural jewel that will be the best in the world,” adding that the stadium “retains the magic of its greatest moments but with a new soul — it’s like going back to the future.”

Symbolism and Legacy

Laporta underscored the symbolic importance of the day, calling it both “a look to the past and a leap into the future.” For him, the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou represents a legacy project for future generations of Barça fans.

He explained that the club could already host a match with 27,000 fans but is waiting for a full operational review before scheduling the first official fixture. “We’ll do it as soon as possible,” Laporta said, confirming that final technical assessments are underway.

Fan Experience and Community Engagement

The atmosphere during the training session was festive and family-oriented. The event featured music, dance, and entertainment, with special guest appearances and fan interaction. Supporters chanted traditional Barça songs, and players closed the session by signing autographs and kicking souvenir balls into the stands. Fans who caught one left with a tangible memory of the stadium’s new era.

Notably, coach Hansi Flick humorously scored the first goal at the new Spotify Camp Nou, sparking laughter and cheers from the crowd before the team’s practice began.