Barcelona’s recent past is explained through the Camp Nou. Also your future. If the move from the field on Industria Street to Les Corts marked the coming of age for an increasingly popular club, the inauguration of the Camp Nou in 1957 raised the international status of an entity represented by the figure of Kubala and the success of the Fairs Cup, the Barça bet in opposition to the Bernabéu European Cup and the newspaper L’Équipe. The expansion of the stadium in 1982, site of the opening of the World Cup in Spain, and the 1992 Olympic final marked the way to end European frustration based on the Dream Team and the figure of Messi. Now it is the Barça brand that demands a new Camp Nou.
“The construction of the new field will become a turning point, perhaps the most important in the history of Barcelona. Not only as an economic fact but also as a concept: it is the basis for maintaining the club as we know it, the basis for adapting to the 21st century and its entertainment policy,” explains Elena Fort, vice president of the institutional area. With the projects of Barça 2000 (Núñez), Foster (Laporta’s first presidency) and Nikken Sekkei’s Espai Barça (Bartomeu) frustrated, Laporta found in his new mandate his second opportunity to build the new stadium. The challenge was looming large. “It was a challenge,” highlights Fort. When Laporta regained control in 2021, the club was, according to the then general director, Ferran Reverter, “in technical bankruptcy.” The net worth was negative (451 million) and the debt amounted to 1,350. In this context, the board opted for the new Camp Nou.
“We valued something that had no return: either we would build the new stadium or we would be at a disadvantage compared to other clubs,” analyzes Ferran Olivé, the club’s treasurer. In the last meeting, the net worth was estimated at 91 million in the red and the debt at 1,300 million. To that figure we must add the 1,450 million liabilities that are estimated to be allocated to the Camp Nou (1,000 million bonds and 450 million bank debt). “The new stadium will pay for itself,” they warn from the economic area. The club’s plan is for the new stadium to generate around 350 million, of which 250 will be used to pay off the debt.
“The club must be provided with infrastructure to protect it from the possible temptation to change the ownership model. That is the most important value of the Barça brand. And we are going to protect it above all,” insists Fort. After Florentino Pérez announced a referendum to change Madrid’s club model, Barça insists that it rules out the option of a sports limited company. According to what the board understands, a well-managed club, in short, economically strong, can negotiate the SAD. A club idea in which everyone agrees. “The SAD is neither the ideal nor the correct solution,” stresses Joan Camprubí from the opposition. “The model is not touched,” added Víctor Font, candidate for the presidency in 2021. “Barça,” says Gerard Piqué; “It is different from all the clubs in the world. Its property is divided among 140,000 members. Milan, Inter, Juventus, United, Chelsea, PSG or Bayern only virtually belong to their fans.”
The Camp Nou is seen as the source of income that revitalizes the club’s economy. Laporta distances himself from Florentino in the ownership model; It remains to be seen, in any case, if he continues to be associated with Madrid in the long and tortuous idea of the Super League. Starting next year, the new stadium will host the new Champions League, it will also be the home of one of the most talented sports projects in current football. “Lamine Yamal explains the country model, the club model. “A son of immigrants, perfectly adapted to Catalonia and who speaks Catalan,” says Fort. “The future of Barça is Lamine, but also Gavi, Pedri, Casadó and Cubarsí. Another fantastic generation appears,” they say from the sports area.
Lamine will have the new house that Leo Messi couldn’t have. And Laporta, his shield against SAD.
