Barcelona's referendum on a proposed €600M ($822M) project to renovate Camp Nou and other Barcelona facilities saw 72% of voters confirm their support of the project on Saturday. With 27,161 of 37,535 participating members saying "yes" to the project to renovate Camp Nou, the Palau Blaugrana basketball arena and the club's offices, among other aspects of the project, the project will now move forward. Construction on the project will begin in May '17, with the club expecting the project to be completed by Feb. '21. Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu said, "The support for the new Espai Barça proposal has been extraordinary. ... I'm very satisfied. ... Voting made me very happy, as did seeing so many votes cast by members. It's a huge project that will improve the club for years to come" (Barcelona). REUTERS' Iain Rogers reported "matches will still be played while the remodelling, which would see a striking new shell-like roof added to the current structure," opened in '57, is carried out. Saturday's vote was "only the second in the club's 115-year history." The first came in '50, when "members backed plans to move from the old Las Corts stadium" to Camp Nou (REUTERS, 4/5).
FEWER PARTICIPANTS THAN EXPECTED: In Madrid, Francisco Cabezas reported "despite the scarce participation, the members of Barcelona are showing their support for the board by accepting the Camp Nou renovations." The board "received the support that it had demanded, which will allow it to take forward a key project." It is a "triumph and despite scarce participation from the members -- only 31.65% of the members voted -- it strengthens Bartomeu's board." Bartomeu denied, "at least publicly, that the referendum would definitely keep him in the presidency." Bartomeu: "This vote does not change anything. We have a lot more to do in the club in the remaining two years of this term." Barcelona was "expecting 40% of its members to participate." The "most surprising thing is that of the 81,978 spectators" that attended Barcelona's match against La Liga Real Betis on Saturday, "only 37,535 chose to exercise their right to vote." Bartomeu "emphasized the transparency" of the project. Bartomeu: "It will not be a dark job, it will be open. There will be constant information during the next eight years" (EL MUNDO, 4/6).
LAPORTA REACTS: SPORT reported former Barcelona President Joan Laporta "called for responsible spending on a project of this scale." Laporta: "The stadium had to be renovated. What I ask is that the agreements that have to be made be reached with maximum prudence because this is no time to make renovations without looking at them responsibly" (SPORT, 4/6).
MAYOR OFFERS TO COLLABORATE: The EFE reported Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias offered "to collaborate with Barcelona on the remodeling of Camp Nou since the initial planning is 'serious and positive,' but declared that he will not allow 'nonsense.'" Trias said that "one has to wait to learn the needs and plans of Barcelona," but added that the project is "a lot better for the neighbors, because Barcelona is a barrier, and improving it will be positive for the neighborhood" (EFE, 4/6).
