2023-08-20 08:45:20
BarcelonaA few months before the move to Montjuïc, the architects of Barça and those of Barcelona Municipal Services (BSM) looked with a magnifying glass at the maximum capacity of the Olympic stadium. Aware that the Lluís Companys could hold half as many fans as the Camp Nou, with the drop in income that this meant, the goal of the Blaugrana club was to squeeze the capacity as much as possible. But what is drawn on paper is one thing and the other, quite different, is what ends up being executed. According to BSM sources, Barça’s forecast was so optimistic that at the time of truth some of the projected seats did not fit. Afterwards, it was the firemen who went through the ribot again, due to safety measures. The final figure recorded in the activity license is 54,357 spectators, about 1,500 less than the initial maximum capacity of the stadium.
The situation, which could be worrisome – fewer seats imply a lower billing capacity – has ended up being anecdotal considering the lack of acceptance that the temporary exile at Lluís Companys is having. The noble offices of Barça already knew that many of the season ticket holders would decline to go to Montjuïc, but they were not aware of the magnitude of the tragedy until they put the passes on sale. Of the 27,000 budgeted, only 6,000 were placed. Most, in the most economical areas. The number ended up going up to 17,000 after the price was cut in half. But, as vice-president Elena Fort admitted, the objective had not been “met”.
Tickets from 69 euros to see Barça-Cádiz in the Olympic stadium
The Olympic stadium has a bad reputation, because the football is not seen as well there as at the Camp Nou and because it costs a lot to get there. The capital investment that Barça has made, which has earmarked 20 million to adapt the facilities to meet the requirements of the League and UEFA, has also included a notable item to improve visibility: visual elements have been introduced such as some carpets that cover the athletics track and that give the feeling of bringing the playing field closer to the bleachers. Even so, ticket sales are not following the expected pace. After the Gamper, Barça will play their first official match in Montjuïc this Sunday with the unknown of knowing what support they will have in the stands (7.30 p.m., Movistar LaLiga). The opponent, a team without a poster like Cadiz, and the fact of being in the holiday season, do not invite optimism. The day before, only the goals had sold out, which are also the cheapest (€69). The most expensive, grandstand ones, cost 169 euros. And the localities vip they start at 325 euros. High prices that are aimed more at tourists who come to Barcelona with full pockets than at the local public.
In the first projections, Barça expected to sell all the seats, despite the fact that some had no visibility – the lowest rows are conditioned by the advertising fences. Finally, only those that offer full vision (40,103) and those that have between 80 and 100% visibility (9,369) have been put on sale. The others (2,716 with vision between 40 and 80% and 2,179 with vision between 0 and 40%), which were supposed to be equipped with a screen system – which were ultimately not installed. lat– have been discarded. The challenge, according to club sources, is for the average attendance to be between 35,000 and 40,000 fans and leave the full house for one-off Champions League matches or for the classic against Real Madrid.
The mobility plan that conditions the arrival at Montjuïc
The other major impediment to Montjuïc is access. The Barcelona City Council, still in the hands of Ada Colau when the mobility plan was drawn up, was definitive with the ban on arriving at the stadium by private vehicle, except for the few cars that were accredited. Space was only made for 3,500 motorcycles around the stadium. The vast majority, at least half, had to get there on foot. And between 30% and 40% with the shuttle buses or the funicular. More hurdles for an unmobilized fan.
For those coming from outside Barcelona, the Fira Gran Via car parks have been enabled, from where one of the shuttle buses that arrive at the stadium departs. The company Promoparc is in charge of management and the price is fixed, 12 euros for six hours of parking. Initially, the City Council assured that “it was working” with Barça so that they were free, although in the end they will be paid for. The council keeps the collection.
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