Camp Nou: More than a stadium

Perhaps the most iconic stadium in European football the Camp Nou is home to a team that transcends football, FC Barcelona.

The Camp Nou certainly lives up to Barcelona’s motto, “més que un club” (“more than a club”). The Spanish giants have earnt worldwide respect through its’ glory periods and footballing philosophy.

Currently the biggest stadium in Europe, Camp Nou represents the entire city of Barcelona. The stadium was inaugurated in 1957 and has played host to many of the legend of the game, such as Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and of course, Lionel Messi.

The 99,354-capacity stadium is the third biggest in the world, but it wasn’t Barcelona’s first home. Camp Nou translates to “new pitch” in Catalan after the club left its old ground of Les Corts.

Since then, however, the football club has only grown as Camp Nou has witnessed historic moments for both Barcelona and football as a whole.  Two European Cup finals and the opening game of the 1982 World Cup have been staged at the stadium.

The club’s success and history reverberate around the stadium, as the supporters have grown used to beautiful football. As Barcelona legend, Xavi once stated: “If a defender hoofs the ball, you can hear the groans.”

In keeping with being ‘more than a stadium’, the Camp Nou is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Barcelona. Thousands of tourists flock to the stadium every other week as they know a footballing spectacle awaits.

Not only is the football a joy to behold, but the steep stands of supporters also provide entertainment in abundance. Whether it be almost 100,000 chanting “Messi, Messi” or the incredible mosaics ahead of big means, the Camp Nou is a sanctuary to those in Barcelona.

The Camp Nou museum is also one of the most visited attractions in the city, showing off trophies of past and present and is certainly a must-see for both football lovers and non-football fans alike.

There are plans to expand the stadium even further after Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei had a renovation project approved in 2016. The capacity is set to be increased by 6,000 to 105,000 with all fans able to be seated and covered, while the stadium’s exterior, entrances, facilities and the surrounding areas will also be improved.

Already the largest stadium in Europe, the expansion will further the Camp Nou’s legacy. Interestingly enough Barcelona plays host to SD Eibar this weekend who have on the smaller stadiums in La Liga, with a capacity of just 7,000.

The new Camp Nou will be brimming with personality and fit hand-in-hand with the club’s own expansion project which aims to bring it closer to the whole world, allowing the club and the stadium to continue to be about much more than football.