In Barcelona you breathe soccer, a sport that moves passions, joy, adrenaline, nationalism and pride. At the first opportunity do not miss the splendid Barcelona Stadium, the Camp Nou.
The sports venue is owned by Futbol Club Barcelona, FCB, and was inaugurated on September 24, 1957. It was also the inaugural venue for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Located in the district of Les Corts in Barcelona, it is an example of Barça’s expansion as a sports club.
Over the years, the Camp Nou has undergone several renovations to welcome the ever-growing number of fans of the azulgrana team.
Expansions of the north and south goal or the change of stands are part of what today is the symbolic stadium.
It has been classified by the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, as “an elite stadium” with the largest spectator capacity in Europe and the third largest in the world.
Its construction
The project for the new stadium began in 1954 led by architects Francesc Mitjans Miró and Josep Soteras Mauri. A year later, the Club awarded the work to INGAR SA construction company.
The work cost around 288 million pesetas at the time until its completion in 1957. Its inauguration was attended by more than 90 thousand spectators, which was its capacity.
It was built of concrete and iron with a playing field measuring 107 by 72 meters. It is currently 105 x 68 according to UEFA regulations.
When you visit this monumental sports facility, you will appreciate its lighting, electronic scoreboard, private boxes, VIP lounge and press room.
Currently, the stadium has expanded its seating capacity to 22,150 new seats in the third tier. This left the Camp Nou with a seating capacity of 115,000.
Do you know why it is called Camp Nou
In the beginning, the intention was that the state would bear the name of the founder of the Joan Gamper Club. However, due to the opposition of the authorities, it was inaugurated with a neutral name: Stadium of the Barcelona Football Club.
The field was popularly known as the Camp Nou (new field) in reference to the “old” field of “Les Corts”. Les Corts was the second stadium of Futbol Club Barcelona (before the current Camp Nou).
In 2001 the then president of the Club, Joan Gaspart, called a meeting of the members to define the official name of the stadium. At that meeting, the name of the Camp Nou was made official by majority vote. This denomination was also the most popular among fans and the press.
In the Camp Nou facilities you can also visit the official headquarters of Futbol Club Barcelona. The administration offices and the “Museu del F. C. Barcelona”, the most visited museum in Catalonia, are located there.
