Barca opt for remodelled Nou Camp instead of new stadium

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona's board of directors have rejected the option of building a new stadium and will push ahead with a remodelling of the Nou Camp, president Sandro Rosell said on Monday.





Barca members, who collectively own the Catalan club, will be given a chance at the beginning of April to vote on the proposal that would increase the capacity of Europe's biggest stadium from 98,000 to 105,000 and help boost matchday revenue, Rosell told a news conference.

The project, which also includes the construction of a new indoor basketball arena and various other installations, is expected to cost around 600 million euros (495 million pounds) and work would begin in 2017 and be completed by early 2021.

Matches would still be played while the work, which would see a striking new roof added to the current structure, was carried out.

"It was a difficult decision," Rosell said. "The two projects were very attractive but we were committed to put to a referendum a project that was viable from a technical, urban-planning and economic perspective.

"The Nou Camp is part of our collective memory, the biggest stadium in Europe and an icon of the city of Barcelona.

"The option of building a new stadium on a new site has been rejected as the final cost could have saddled the club and its members with debt and tied the hands of future boards of directors," added Rosell.

The plans for the remodelled stadium, which opened in 1957, include building a steeper bottom tier that would improve visibility for spectators.

There would be new restaurants with a view of the pitch and so-called "super boxes" and other VIP services.

"To maintain our status as leaders we have to take this historic step which will require effort from everyone involved but which will guarantee the comforts that come with a new installation with the latest technologies at the service of its users and athletes," Rosell said.

"What's more we will increase the value of our real estate and the capacity to generate additional income without having to sell off assets."

(Writing by Iain Rogers in Madrid, editing by Tony Jimenez)


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world