Spend 70,000 euros to survive until Barcelona returns! Every body: Camp Nou reopens after two and a half years, businesses return to life

According to media reports, Barcelona’s home stadium has reopened after two and a half years, and fans and businesses are looking forward to it.

After two and a half years of waiting, the Camp Nou stadium has finally partially reopened ahead of this Saturday's game against Athletic Bilbao. Although only 45,000 spectators are allowed to enter the stadium, this is a huge spiritual boost for Barcelona fans who have lost their home court for a long time. At the same time, this also means that part of the surrounding community life will be restored.

We visited several bars and shops around the stadium to learn about their experiences in the past two and a half years and their expectations for the team's return.

"I spent more than 70,000 euros trying to hold on until Barcelona came back." During this period, many businesses had to change their business strategies to survive. Maurizio Barbato is the current owner of Camp e on Cortez Avenue. Manager of a Pizza restaurant, he told his difficult experience: "To be honest, we were told that the work would only last a year, but now it has been two and a half years. I invested a lot of money. The bar next door is mine, but I had to sell it. The rent here is very expensive, and if there are no Barcelona games, the business is very bleak. I have spent more than 70,000 euros to hold on until Barcelona comes back. , and ended up selling it at a low price and carrying a lot of debt."

Faced with the project delay, Maurizio decided to change his business direction and opened a pizza shop, hoping to attract more local customers: "Now I have changed it to a pizza shop, hoping to attract nearby residents to eat pizza. It would be great if Barcelona's return can bring more business." Pepa stays active Next, we come to Riera Blanca Street, an important area connecting Barcelona to L 'Hospitalet de Llobregat. There is a famous bar, La Pepa. Although the bar has also been affected, it relies on the support of the community to survive: "The stadium next to it is really attractive, but we are on the street, not in the stadium. It does feel different on match days, but on ordinary days it is an ordinary neighborhood. We feel that people come here not just because of the stadium, but because of the neighborhood." Bar employee Joann explained.

For those shops rooted in the community, Barcelona's presence is more of a supplement than the main selling point, but they still look forward to the arrival of match days: "We always look forward to the return of the Nou Camp. It is an important day because everyone is excited, but it is not the only thing we rely on."

"Our business has dropped by 70% in the past two years" Finally, we came to Travessera de les Corts Avenue, one of the main roads leading to Camp Nou. Here we find the 3 Copes bar and the Casa Pin bar. Both bars are full of Barcelona elements.

3 Juan, the manager of Copes Bar, said: "We have been waiting for Barcelona to return to the home court. The past two years without Barcelona have been very difficult. Many nearby bars have changed hands... and tourists no longer come here. Our business has dropped by 70%."

Casa Ricardo, a staff member at Pin Bar, said: "This is really a happy thing, especially after two and a half years. We are very much looking forward to seeing the neighborhood full of vitality again. This is good for business. The past two years have been really difficult, and the rent has been high, but we have known this for a long time."

This Saturday is not only the day when Barcelona returns to its home court, but also the moment for many businesses to end the gray period and regain their vitality. Fans will once again fill the streets of Les Cortes and the bars will feel the lively atmosphere they have lost for a long time.

source:free 7m cn