Espai Barça financing operation a case study at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit

In April 2023, FC Barcelona agreed a unique financing operation for Espai Barça after a comprehensive design and structuring process to develop a plan to ensure the redevelopment work on the Spotify Camp Nou began, as such moving closer to bringing the Club's most important project in its history to fruition. The Club presented the financing model today as a case study as part of the prestigious British newspaper The Financial Times' Business of Football Summit held on Wednesday and Thursday.

FC Barcelona's finance director ​​Manel del Rio was there to explain the terms of the 1.45 billion euro deal to finance Espai Barça, which met the criteria approved during the 2014 and 2022 referendums without jeopardising the Club's assets or mortgaging the stadium. All the details were outlined as part of the panel, "Stadiums - Is redevelopment becoming crucial for financial security?", led by Josh Noble, Sports Editor from the Financial Times, and also featuring Donna-Maria Cullen, the Executive Director of Tottenham Hotspur, and Declan Sharkey, Senior Principal from Populous.

The Club and its key partners developed an operation that again confirmed the Club's credibility in the financial markets when it comes to the Spotify Camp Nou project, the epicentre of Espai Barça. In this sense, FC Barcelona's finance director also reminded on Thursday that the financing structure contains different repayment periods over 5, 7, 9, 20 and 24 years, as well as its flexible nature and grace period. He added that one of the main methods for generating new income is to offer three times more higher quality VIP boxes and seats in the new stadium. The new Palau Blaugrana will also have the flexibility to combine sporting events with cultural events as a new revenue stream.

During his speech, Del Rio highlighted that this project is vital to ensure FC Barcelona remains at the forefront of sport worldwide, as it both represents one of the cornerstones for the Club's economic recovery and future viability, and acts as a tool to enable the unique member-owned Club governance model to remain in place. Furthemore, he emphasised that sustainability and integration into the Les Corts neighbourhood are key guiding aspects for the project, ensuring that the surrounding area has an open space with no barriers, and that it will form a new appealing area to visit in the city.

A leading football industry conference

The Business of Football Summit is one of the leading conferences in the football industry that brings together the main investors, club and league executives, broadcasters, tecnological innovators, consultants and other key sector stakeholders. Current topics were discussed as part of this sixth edition of the event, including the increased investment into women's football, the impact of new technology on player performance and the effect of stadium redevelopment on a club's financial security.