600 million euros for a new Camp Nou

FC Barcelona is preparing for a new home. Club's “socios” voted in favor of a project to renovate Camp Nou stadium after a referendum held yesterday in the capital city of Catalonia region.

The initial budget for the whole project is 600 million euros of which 420 will be destined for the stadium. The project also regards the surrounding areas of the Camp Nou Stadium and the construction of a new indoor multipurpose arena for the basketball team. Auxiliary facilities for FC Barcelona B team are also part of the 600 million euro project and parking facilities.

However, the referendum was not a complete success for the Catalan club. Barcelona has about 120.000 “socios” also regarded as investor-fans, but only 37,535 of them participated. However, Barcelona's president is regarding this project as the future for the club. “We have proposed this project thinking about the future and the next generation of Barcelona fans. I want to thank all the members who have exercised their right to vote,” said Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Camp Nou is the biggest stadium in Europe with 99.000 seats. Catalan officials want to increase its capacity to 105,000 seats and also put a roof on the stadium. Part of the funding will come from selling the name rights so the stadium will carry the name of any sponsor for a determined period. Renovation should start in 2017 and finish by 2021.