Barcelona President Joan Laporta told the press confidently last week that they were on schedule to be back at Camp Nou by the end of the year, despite concern over the state of the stadium three months out from that date. However they have been given a boost in that regard.
The Blaugrana have faced a series of noise complaints from neighbours about the work, but after they had meeting with the Barcelona Council, the club has found an agreement to work on the renovations 24 hours per day from Monday to Friday. Over the weekend, that work will be limited to 08:00-22:00, although outwith that period, the Blaugrana will only be allowed to work on the interior of the stadium, and on the North Stand, as this backs onto a cemetery and not housing. MD say the permit will be revised after a month to see how it progresses.
Barcelona are desperate to return to Camp Nou as soon as possible, which when it occurs will permit the club access to another 14,000 tickets, with the initial proposed capacity of 64,000 at Camp Nou. Work will then continue on the third tier. The cost of missing out on potential ticket revenue and renting out Montjuic is many millions, and only 22,500 members have signed up to be season-ticket holders at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.