Barcelona announced on Wednesday that their return to the Camp Nou would be delayed until at least mid-February due to ongoing modernization and expansion work at the iconic stadium. The club confirmed that their La Liga home matches against Valencia and Alaves, originally scheduled for January 26 and February 2, would now take place at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium.
The delay is primarily due to UEFA regulations, which prevent clubs from changing stadiums during the opening phase of the Champions League, along with logistical challenges and additional costs of operating two venues simultaneously. Barcelona’s next possible home game at the Camp Nou could be against Rayo Vallecano on February 16, 2024.
Barcelona had previously hoped to return to the Camp Nou by the end of 2024 with an initial seating capacity of 62,000. The full renovation, part of the "Espai Barca" project, is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, which will increase the stadium's capacity to 105,000. Work on the stadium began in June 2023 but has faced delays due to permit issues and complaints about working conditions, leading the club to extend their agreement to use Montjuic until March 2025 as a precaution.
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