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‘Hear the goals during the afterlife’: Barça fans get to inter ashes at club’s new memorial

By · Via The Guardian · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Barcelona has introduced the Memorial FC Barcelona columbarium at Camp Nou, offering 26,000 burial niches with prices ranging from €2,490 for 10 years to €10,000 for eternity. Revenue generated from these reservations will directly support the ongoing overhaul of the 1957 venue, which is expanding to 105,000 seats. Over 1,000 supporters have already secured placements in the architect Quique Montoya-designed space ahead of next year's construction. Meanwhile, non-season ticket prices have doubled as the broader redevelopment project has surged well beyond its original €900m budget.

Key points

  • Niche sales serve as an unconventional revenue stream to support the club's financially s…: Niche sales serve as an unconventional revenue stream to support the club's financially strained Camp Nou redevelopment.
  • Over 1,000 fans have already reserved spots in the memorial before formal construction be…: Over 1,000 fans have already reserved spots in the memorial before formal construction begins late next year.
  • Construction challenges will force the team to temporarily play matches at the 55,926-cap…: Construction challenges will force the team to temporarily play matches at the 55,926-capacity Olympic Stadium during roof installations.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Lifelong supporters of Barcelona football club will soon be able to cheer on the club from beyond the grave – but, like everything else at Barça, eternal devotion comes at a price.

As part of an upgrade to the Camp Nou, the club has inaugurated the Memorial FC Barcelona, consisting of 26,000 niches where fans can deposit their ashes after their own final whistle has blown.

Supporting the team from the afterlife will cost €2,490 (£2,082) for 10 years or €6,000 for 50 years, with an annual maintenance fee of €70. Guaranteeing your niche for eternity will set you back €10,000, with a further €490 for a memorial plaque.

Presenting the Memorial FC Barcelona, María Elena Fort, the club’s institutional vice-president, said: “When my grandfather died many years ago, he said the only thing he wanted was to be buried next to Barça’s pitch so that he could hear the goals go in during the afterlife. Many fans dream of the same thing.”

The memorial, designed by the architect Quique Montoya, will consist of four large illuminated squares, while the…

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