Barcelona members have approved a new loan of €510 million during the general assembly held over the weekend, a move primarily aimed at completing the redevelopment of the Camp Nou. According to The Athletic, this loan will increase the club's financial obligations, which could reach around €2.6 billion when accounting for debts owed to financial partners and payment schedules.
€300 million of the loan will be allocated directly to complete the stadium works, while the remaining funds will go towards additional costs and expenses related to the project. As a result, the total cost of the "Espai Barça" project will rise to around €1.8 billion, which is nearly three times the estimates that were proposed when the project was launched in 2014.
Barcelona president Juan Laporta confirmed that the €300 million allocated from the new loan will not cover the construction of "Palau Blaugrana", the venue designated for the club's teams in various sports, such as basketball and handball. This comes as the club continues to rely on its significant revenues and its ability to meet its financial obligations in the medium and long term.
From a sporting perspective, FC Barcelona is enjoying a strong start to the season, as they sit atop LaLiga after achieving seven victories in seven matches. The attendance at Camp Nou has also contributed to boosting ticket revenues. However, the completion of stadium works will force the team to leave their ground once again, as the club's management plans to finish the 2026-2027 season at Camp Nou, before playing part of the 2027-2028 season away from the stadium, at least until January 2028.
According to the current plan, Barcelona is heading back to Montjuïc Stadium, which hosted its matches during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons, after vice president Ferran Olivé confirmed a preliminary agreement with local authorities on this matter. Olivé stated during the general assembly: "When we return to Camp Nou in January 2028, we expect its capacity to reach 95,000 spectators, which will restore all the necessary capabilities to enhance the club's financial management."
FC Barcelona hopes that returning to "Camp Nou" after the completion of development works will give them greater revenue potential, especially with their stadium set to host the UEFA Champions League final on June 2, 2029.
