Barcelona are negotiating with the Barcelona City Council to rent the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Montjuic for the majority of the 2027-28 season, according to reports from Cadena SER. The move would be necessary to allow for the installation of the new roof at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, the final major phase of the long-running construction project. The club plans to schedule away matches at the tail end of the 2026-27 season and the start of the 2027-28 campaign to minimize disruption, but talks indicate a potential rental lasting until January or February of 2028.
The Catalans only returned to their iconic home last November after a delayed exile of over a year, playing at the Olympic stadium throughout the 2025-26 season. The current capacity at Camp Nou stands at just over 60,000, with work on the first two tiers complete. The club aims to open the third tier next season to reach the full projected capacity of 105,000 spectators. However, the subsequent roof installation is a complex operation that requires the stadium to be largely vacated, prompting the need for another temporary relocation.
This potential second move underscores the protracted nature of the Espai Barca project. Initial timelines projected a three-year completion for the entire renovation, but consistent delays now suggest a span closer to four and a half years. The original return to Camp Nou was postponed by a full year, and meeting the latest deadlines for the third tier and subsequent roof work remains a significant challenge for the club and its contractors.
The return to Montjuic, while not ideal, offers a familiar and logistically viable solution. Barcelona played all their home matches at the 55,000-seat Olympic stadium last season, registering mixed results on the pitch but managing the operational aspects of a temporary tenancy. Negotiations with the council will focus on the rental terms and the precise schedule, with the club seeking to secure the venue for a prolonged period to ensure stability for its season ticket holders and commercial operations.
For fans and the club's finances, another season away from the completed Camp Nou represents a continued compromise. Matchday revenue, a critical income stream, will again be capped by the smaller capacity of the Olympic stadium. The extended timeline also places further strain on the club's long-term financial planning, which has been built around the projected boost from the modernized mega-stadium. The finalization of these temporary plans hinges entirely on the construction schedule proceeding without further major delays, a prospect that has proven uncertain throughout the project's history.
