Barcelona FC

The old Les Corts ground after several expansions had increased its capacity to 60,000.

It was still not big enough to cope with the surging interest in the team though, especially after the arrival of Hungarian superstar Ladislau Kubala and the new Barça stadium was built to replace it.

The stadium was designed by architects Francesc Mitjans Miró and Josep Soteras Mauri, with the collaboration of Lorenzo García Barbón, and it was constructed between 1954 and 1957, using mainly concrete and iron. The whole project cost a staggering 288 million pesetas, which meant the club would spend the following years in heavy debt.

Although it was originally going to go under the official name of ‘Estadi del FC Barcelona’, it soon came to be popularly known as the 'Camp Nou' (the ‘new ground’), as opposed to the club’s old home at Les Corts. It was not until the 2000/2001 season that, following a mail vote made by the club membership, that the decision was made to make ‘Camp Nou’ the official name of the stadium. Of the 29,102 votes the club received, a total of 19,861 (68.25%) preferred Camp Nou to Estadi del FC Barcelona.

The stadium’s maximum height is 48 metres, and it covers a surface area of 55,000 square metres (250 metres long and 220 metres wide). In accordance with UEFA stipulations, the playing area has been downsized to 105 metres x 68 metres.

With a capacity of 98,787, it is now the biggest stadium in Europe. However, the total capacity has varied over the years owing to different modifications. When it was first opened in 1957, it held 93,053 spectators, which would be increased to 120,000 in 1982 on occasion of the FIFA World Cup. However, the introduction of new regulations outlawing standing areas reduced the stadium’s capacity in the late 1990s to just under 99,000.

In the 1998-99 season, UEFA recognised the services and functionalities of the Camp Nou by awarding it five star status. In the whole of Spain there are only three other stadiums that can claim that, the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, also in Barcelona, the new Cartuja Olympic Stadium in Seville and the Vicente Calderón, home of Atlético Madrid.

Of the different facilities on offer inside the stadium, of particular note are a chapel next to the changing rooms, the presidential box, the VIPs lounge, the press rooms, several television studios, the Sports Medicine Centre, the Operative Control Unit (UCO), the veteran players area, the FC Barcelona club museum, the nursery and the offices of all of the many different club departments.

Opened on 23rd September 1982, the Miniestadi is a ground used by Barca's reserve teams.

On the 23rd September 1982, the Miniestadi, brainchild of architect Josep Casals and project manager Ramon Domenech, was inaugurated. In just nine months the stadium, with a capacity of 15.276 split in two tiers and with a covered grandstand, was completed. The pitch measures 103 metres by 65 metres.

Facilities

Next to the 'Mini' (the nickname bestowed on the new ground) there are two training pitches, called pitch 3 and 4, which have artificial turf. This last pitch, of regulation size, is 100 metres by 70 metres and has seating for 1000 spectators. The Miniestadi normally hosts FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona C matches.

Main sporting events

Amongst the highlights of matches played at the Mini, the Copa del Rey match in the 1983-84 season between a Barca reserve side, known at the time as Barça Atlètic, and the Real Madrid first team stands out. The 0-0 draw turned out to be an historic result as the 1-0 scoreline in the return leg proved to be enough to put the Barça youngsters through. Four years later, in the 1987-88 season the stadium was fill to capacity once more for an under-19 Barça-Real Madrid match.

The Mini has also hosted Andorra's international fixtures including games against Ireland and Holland. The Barcelona Dragons were based there in 2002. It is also the customary location for the Clubs Presidential elections.

Capacity crowd for Paris broadcast

But one of the most emotional evenings at the Miniestadi was the broadcast of the 2006 Champions League Final. Saint-Denis in Paris was not the only stadium in Europe to be enraptured by FC Barcelona?s victory. 11,000 people filled every seat to watch Barça on the giant screen as they came from behind to beat Arsenal and claim the trophy for the second time. It was yet another unforgettable evening for FC Barcelona?s amazing supporters.


THE MINIESTADI, IN DETAIL
Inauguration date: 23 September 1982
Capacity: 15.276 espectators
Pitch dimensions: 103 x 65 m.
Complementary Instalations: two training pitches

La Masia, located next to the stadium, is the heart of the Barça youth system. This emblematic building forms part of the history and heritage of Futbol Club Barcelona, and is an ancient country residence built in 1702.

At first, La Masia was used as the workshop in which the architects and builders of the Camp Nou modelled their project, and was the starting point for VIP visitors and collaborators in the construction work. Once FC Barcelonas stadium was inaugurated, on September 24, 1957, the doors of La Masia were closed until a new use could be found for it. Under the presidency of Enric Llaudet, the building was remodelled and extended for use as the clubs social headquarters, which had formerly been located on a different site in Via Laietana. The new social headquarters were opened on September 26, 1966.

In 1979 it became a holl of residence

As the club grew and different offices were established, it became apparent that La Masia was no longer big enough, and under Agustí Montal, they were moved to the area now next to the ice rink. So, La Masia was once again disused until Josep Lluís Núñez assumed the presidency and immediately found a new purpose for the building: La Masia became the residence of young players from outside of Barcelona. The renovation work was done quickly, and on October 20, 1979 it was officially declared ready for use.

A group of young players with a bright future

This residence is now used to develop the young players that have had to leave their families in order to train at FC Barcelona both in a sporting and intellectual sense. In the clubs centenary year, La Masia celebrated its twentieth anniversary and the general feedback has been very positive. Several youngsters that had lived at La Masia have gone on to play for the first team, including Amor, Guardiola, Sergi, De la Peña, Puyol, Xavi, Reina, Víctor Valdés, Gabri and Messi, as well a large number of players that have gone on to play for other Spanish clubs. So successful has it all been that many people now simply use the name La Masia to refer to Barças youth players in general.
But the players residing at La Masia are not only limited to those from Catalonia or the rest of the state. There are also numerous young players from other countries.

The facilities

La Masia consists of two floors and a few attics, measuring 610 m2. It houses 60 boys (12 sleep at La Masia itself and another 48 in other rooms situated around the stadium). It has a kitchen, dining room, living room, library, office, bathrooms, showers and four large dormitories with dressing rooms.