Much like their Clasico rivals, Real Madrid, Barcelona might also have to move out of their home ground due to renovation plans. The Espai Barcelona project was given the green light back in 2014. Under former President Josep Maria Bartomeu, the project was expected to be completed in the next four years.
However, that timeframe can no longer be met according to the latest reports coming out of Spain. Since matches cannot be played at Camp Nou while construction work is being carried out, current president Joan Laporta suggested that Barcelona move to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, which is the former stadium of their cross-city rivals Espanyol.
The Espai project has been quite problematic for Barcelona to manage, especially due to change in projected cost. When the project was approved in 2014, it was estimated to cost the club €600 million. Under the most recent projection under Bartomeu, the figure was estimated to be around €850 million. But with plans taking an even further backseat, that figure is now estimated to be well above 1.24 Euros, according to Forbes.
The aim of the project was to renovate Camp Nou, construct the Estadi Johan Cruyff at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training centre, and construct Campus Barça which will be home to a new Palau Blaugrana, a Petit Palau, an Ice Rink, and coach park.
Work on the renovation project is set to begin in late 2021 or early 2022. The main work was set to be finished by now, when the project was approved. However, that date has been pushed back to 2025 now.
