What was meant to be a dream project has become a never-ending headache for Barcelona and Joan Laporta. The €1.5 billion Espai Barça plan promised a refurbished Camp Nou to mark the club’s 125th anniversary, but two years on, deadlines have been missed, revenue has plunged, and the Blaugrana are forced to host matches at temporary venues — even a 6,000-seater ground.
On May 29, 2023, Joan Laporta stood proudly at Camp Nou, laying the first brick of Barcelona’s long-awaited Espai Barça project. A time capsule was buried, dignitaries applauded, and Laporta promised fans a world-class stadium ready to host the club’s 125th anniversary in November 2024. The message was clear: the new Spotify Camp Nou would be a source of pride and a legacy for future generations.
Fast forward to September 2025, and the dream has soured. The Camp Nou remains unfinished, plagued by construction delays, missed deadlines, and financial headaches. Barcelona are still homeless, shuffling between Montjuic’s Estadi Olímpic and now even the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium after logistical issues and a Post Malone concert forced another relocation.
From dream to delays
Back in 2021, Laporta framed the €1.5 billion project as essential to Barcelona’s revival after inheriting what he called “the worst accounts in Barça’s history.” Members overwhelmingly backed the plan, and Turkish firm Limak Construction was tasked with delivering the revamped Camp Nou at speed and at a capped cost. The goal: a phased rebuild to hit 62,000 seats by late 2024 and full capacity of 105,000 by 2026.
But optimism quickly gave way to reality. By mid-2024, it was obvious that timelines were slipping. Limak’s lack of big-stadium experience raised eyebrows, while architects and engineers tied to the original plan departed. Promises of returning for the centenary came and went, and now even revised deadlines for 2025 are in doubt.
The financial strain
Every delay has been costly. Playing away from Camp Nou cost Barça an estimated €90m in lost revenue in 2023-24 alone, with losses believed to have doubled since. Sponsorship with Spotify remains partial, as full payments only kick in when the stadium is operational. Meanwhile, the planned sale of VIP seating — a supposed financial lifeline — has been stalled because installations remain unfinished.
Catalan outlet Ara even suggested Barcelona’s push to prioritise VIP sections contributed to the delays, while external factors like the Russo-Ukrainian war disrupted supply chains and increased costs. Despite Limak being theoretically liable for penalties, Laporta has avoided confrontation, preferring to emphasise “unity” with the contractors.
A growing embarrassment
Perhaps the most symbolic moment of the fiasco came this summer when Barcelona announced a return to Camp Nou for the Gamper Trophy, only to backtrack weeks later and shift the game to the Johan Cruyff Stadium due to licensing issues. Fans’ excitement turned to frustration, as the promised “We’re back” campaign fizzled out.
Now, the Blaugrana face even more uncertainty. La Liga made an exception to allow them to host Valencia at a 6,000-seater, while hopes of playing the September 28 clash against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou — crucial for Champions League eligibility — hang by a thread.
Laporta insists the project will eventually deliver, but two years on from that hopeful morning in May 2023, Camp Nou remains a construction site. What was meant to be a landmark achievement for his presidency has instead become a running nightmare — one that encapsulates Barcelona’s ongoing struggle to match their lofty ambitions with harsh financial and logistical realities.
