FC Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium

by David | FC Barcelona

Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium is the largest all seater stadium in Europe and the third largest in the world. Seating 98,700 spectators, it is more correctly known as Camp Nou, which simply means new field in Catalan. Despite the number of spectators it can hold, the stadium empties in a remarkably short space of time and if official club figures are to be believed it can be cleared in 5 minutes.

With construction eventually commencing in 1954 after a wait of several years before a final decision was made, Camp Nou was inaugurated on 24 September 1957, a public holiday commemorating La Mercé, festival celebrating the city’s patron saint.

Although the terraces were still incomplete, more than 90,000 people watched while the new stadium was blessed by the Archbishop of Barcelona, followed by an opening ceremony attended by dignitaries from the worlds of sport and politics. After the ceremony Barça played a selection from Warsaw, beating them 4-2, with the first ever goal in the Camp Nou stadium being scored by Eulogio Martínez in the 11th minute. The stadium was enlarged in 1982 for the Spanish World Cup.

The stadium is currently due to be expanded and roofing to all areas of the stadium.

The Camp Nou tour - the trophy room At full capacity the stadium is deafening, as will be the case when FC Barcelona play their most fierce rivals – Real Madrid, followed by local rivals Espanyol, as well as Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Mallorca and Zaragoza. With the stadium less full, as happened awhile going through a run of bad results in 2003-2004, the stadium can be earily quiet.

Stadium tours and the FC Barcelona Museum are open daily (Mon-Sat 10:00-18:30, Sun 10:00-14:00). You can also buy tickets for FC Barcelona’s matches at Camp Nou stadium.