Barcelona relocated the Joan Gamper Trophy exhibition match on Aug. 10 from Camp Nou to Estadi Johan Cruyff, marking yet one more delay within the membership’s plans to reopen their stadium due to an ongoing renovation challenge.

La Liga’s champions will play Como subsequent month in a match that was speculated to mark their return to Camp Nou, however allowing points will now make it inconceivable for them to play on the venue on that date.

“This choice is because of the truth that the required work to adjust to the necessities of the Ordinance Regulating Municipal Intervention Procedures in Building Works has made it inconceivable to finish the procedures required for the granting of the preliminary licence,” the membership stated in an announcement. “Particularly, because of the scale of the work carried out, it has not been attainable to fulfill all of the situations laid out by the rules governing this licence, regardless of the membership’s intention to reopen the redeveloped stadium sector by sector.”

The 6,000-seater Estadi Johan Cruyff, the place the ladies’s staff frequently performs, will host the match as a substitute. Barcelona have primarily performed in Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys whereas Camp Nou undergoes renovations, a stadium that seats 55,926.

The wait to see when Barcelona will return to Camp Nou will now prolong to Sept. 14, when the primary house match of La Liga’s season is scheduled to happen in opposition to Valencia. That match remains to be scheduled to happen at Camp Nou, although the venue would nonetheless be within the closing levels of its building challenge and the stadium wouldn’t be open at full capability.

Here is an explainer on the Camp Nou renovation challenge because the await Barcelona to re-enter their famed stadium continues.

When did Barcelona final play at Camp Nou?

Barcelona’s closing sport at Camp Nou was on Could 28, 2023 in a 3-0 win in opposition to Mallorca. Ansu Fati scored a brace and Robert Lewandowski additionally bought on the scoresheet, whereas the match was the ultimate time Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets performed for the membership earlier than becoming a member of MLS’ Inter Miami.

What renovations are happening at Camp Nou?

There have been plans to broaden and renovate Camp Nou as early as 2007 however the present building challenge was confirmed in April 2022 and started following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. The primary focus of the challenge was the demolition of the third tier to broaden Camp Nou’s capability from 99,000 to 105,000, which might make it the fifth-largest stadium on the earth, however different parts of the stadium can be up to date throughout building.

“The work will give attention to the primary and second tier, technological points, the environs of the stadium, and exterior urbanisation,” Barcelona stated in an announcement in April 2022. “Actions contained in the Camp Nou will embrace the demolition of the extra construction within the South Purpose zone the place the Medical Centre was positioned, restoration work, anti-carbonation and waterproofing of the stands, in addition to structural finishes and the development and renovation of retransmission methods.

“When it comes to expertise, the plan is to put in new telecommunications connections, to relocate the info processing centre, to create a technical room for monitoring inside telecommunications infrastructures and to put in the brand new services for the TV Compound, for parking of cell TV items. There can even be actions across the stadium, together with work on the Lateral Zone automobile park, the development of the brand new good central storage space, an experiential house for informing members and advertising the challenge, and the transplantation and conditioning of the bushes.”

What’s the timeline for Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou?

Barcelona initially anticipated to be again at Camp Nou for the 2023-24 season at 50 p.c capability whereas the ultimate levels of the development challenge continued earlier than returning to full capability for the 2024-25 season. Totally different construction-related delays have pushed out the date of their return, although.

The membership will now goal Sept. 14 because the earliest attainable return to Camp Nou, when Barcelona are scheduled to play Valencia of their opening house match of the upcoming season. In the event that they make the date, the venue can be open at 50 p.c capability.