Barcelona may move away from Nou Camp

Barcelona’s board of directors will hold a referendum early next year that could see the club move away from Nou Camp and into a new 105,000 capacity stadium.

A meeting took place on Monday and while no decision was reached, an expansion of the current 99,000-seat stadium is also a possibility.

A report has been commissioned by the football club over the viability of both projects before being presented for the referendum.

A decision is expected to be made next month but either way, it would be the third biggest stadium in the world.

Barcelona board spokesman Toni Freixa said the club was considering two options.

“The construction of a new stadium or a profound remodelling project that would constitute a new stadium keeping the current structure of the Camp Nou,” Freixa said.

“Both would have a capacity of 105,000 spectators, the stadium would be covered, there will be a construction of a new Palau with a capacity of 12,000 spectators, an adjacent court with a capacity of 2,000 spectators, 6,000 new parking spots and access to the Ciutat Esportiva of the Miniestadi.”

“We’ve made advances, we have all the information and we’re in a position to make a decision.”

“It needs to be viable from a technical perspective, urbanist and economic. We would never submit a project that would endanger the sustainability of the club.”

The 99,354-seater Nou Camp has been home to the club since 1957 and is the largest ground in Europe.