Source: REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
[Saba Sports News] According to Spanish media reports, the construction of the new Camp Nou is under tight schedule, and the construction teams are working overtime. Barcelona had previously announced that the Gegenbauer Cup would be held on August 10 at the new Camp Nou as a test run after the renovation. However, Barcelona still faces a tight timeline. The Barcelona City Council has extended the construction permit to August 2, originally approved on March 24, allowing continuous work from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, regular hours on Saturdays, and mandatory rest on Sundays. Barcelona must hold the Gegenbauer Cup at the renovated Camp Nou to showcase the new VIP seats and pass the La Liga financial fair play audit. There are reasonable doubts about the audience capacity of the Gegenbauer Cup. The club initially planned to open the first and second tiers to welcome 60,000 fans, but the city government recently changed its stance and reminded Barcelona that it had not yet applied for permission to open the stadium. Furthermore, Barcelona’s application still needs approval from the competition regulators. The venue can only restart after obtaining the first use permit, which requires the completion of the first phase of the project.