Barcelona President Joan Laporta Outlines Timeline as Camp Nou Set to Expand to 62,000 Capacity

Barcelona President Joan Laporta has confirmed when the revamped Spotify Camp Nou will next see its capacity increased, as the club moves into the third phase of its return to the iconic stadium. Barça initially received approval to open two stands, before later obtaining authorisation for a third, bringing the current attendance limit to just over 45,000 spectators.

The next step will see the club open the remaining section of the lower two tiers later this season, raising capacity to 62,000 — the highest figure the ground will reach before the end of the campaign. Construction will then shift towards completing the new third tier in time for the start of the 2025–26 season, with the full project ultimately set to create a 105,000-seat stadium.

Speaking at an event organised by La Vanguardia, Laporta told Mundo Deportivo that the club expects to receive the 1C licence from the City Council within the next month, which would allow a further 17,000 fans to be accommodated.

“The Spotify Camp Nou is a collective dream made real. Our relationship with the City Council is excellent, and I’m proud of that,” Laporta said. “Work is progressing well. Provided there are no unexpected issues, we hope to open the North Stand (1C) and the singing section by late December or early January.”

First Match with Increased Capacity Likely in January

Should the licence arrive within the expected timeframe, Barcelona’s first match with the expanded capacity is likely to be the Copa del Rey fixture against Real Oviedo on 25 January. Owing to commitments in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona will spend much of December and January playing away from home.

Laporta also revealed that the club plans to adjust the ratio between season-ticket holders and general ticket buyers.

“We expect the number of season-ticket holders to rise. At the moment, it is 60% members and 40% ticket holders, but once we reach 62,000 seats, we want it to become 70–30. I’ve learnt to be cautious with dates, because there are technical and safety conditions we cannot always guarantee. But no one wants the singing section restored more than we do.”

The singing section has been at the centre of controversy after the club announced a restructuring of its fan makeup. A dispute arose following a fine issued over abusive and discriminatory chants originating from that area, leading the board to ban the entire section until the fine was settled. Laporta’s critics claim the ban was motivated instead by chants directed at the President.

Laporta Addresses Measures for Eintracht Frankfurt Match

Turning to next Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt, Laporta confirmed that tickets will be sold exclusively to club members, with no public sale. The move comes in response to the previous encounter between the sides, when thousands of Eintracht supporters managed to obtain seats across the stadium, creating a highly contentious atmosphere.

“We have a very negative history with this club. Their fans know every trick to get into the ground,” Laporta said. “We saw the stadium full of Eintracht shirts — it was an unpleasant memory. A lot happened that day.”

“With the La Purísima holiday approaching, we’re implementing every measure necessary to avoid problems. Tickets will be for members only. We resolved the issue we had against Alavés — with the QR code system there will be no difficulties. We want to protect ourselves against misuse and ensure the stadium doesn’t fill up with German fans.”