Barcelona, Nov 7 (AP) - More than 20,000 Barcelona fans streamed into a section of the modernized Camp Nou stadium on Friday to witness the team's practice session, marking the first time since its closure over two years ago for extensive renovations. Fans erupted in cheers as Lamine Yamal and the squad took to the pitch.
Club president Joan Laporta shared earlier this week that he hopes matches will soon resume at the stadium later this month. Barcelona's last game at Camp Nou was in May 2023.
However, the venue clearly remains a work in progress. The entire upper deck is largely a skeletal structure missing seats, while towering cranes dominate the skyline.
Outside, the bustling crowd created a vibrant matchday atmosphere. Inside, fans in Barça jerseys sang and chanted, while players practiced on the lush green field.
The club reported that all 23,000 tickets available for the training session had sold out. Tickets were priced at 5 euros ($6) for club members and 10 euros ($12) for the general public.
The renovation project at Camp Nou began in June 2023, aiming to boost its capacity from nearly 100,000 to 105,000, making it Europe's largest soccer venue. The club, deeply in debt, secured 1.45 billion euros (then $1.6 billion) from various investors to fund the project.
Initially, Barcelona aimed to return to Camp Nou by November 2024 to align with the club’s 125th anniversary. However, this timeline has been repeatedly postponed, with the team currently playing at the municipally-owned 55,000-seat Olympic Stadium since the 2023-24 season's start.
Further delays this summer forced the club to hastily arrange a Spanish league game at a smaller 6,000-seat stadium on its outskirts training grounds in September. Hansi Flick’s team is preparing for Sunday's La Liga clash at Celta Vigo. (AP)
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