Barcelona allows burial of fans' ashes in chambers in the North Stand of Camp Nou

Spanish club Barcelona has announced a project that will allow fans to keep their ashes after death inside the Camp Nou stadium, for fees of up to 10,000 euros for a permanent spot, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. The project, called the “Barcelona Memorial,” involves creating 26,000 niches for storing urns as part of the stadium’s renovation works, alongside designated areas for commemorative plaques bearing fans’ names and messages from their families.

The Guardian reported that prices start at 2,490 euros for keeping the ashes for 10 years, rising to around 6,000 euros for a 50-year period, with an annual maintenance fee of 70 euros. It added that securing a permanent spot costs 10,000 euros, while an additional commemorative plaque costs 490 euros. Meanwhile, the project’s official website offers booking options for 10, 25, and 50 years, priced at 2,490, 4,990, and 5,990 euros respectively, without including a permanent option among the advertised booking periods.

During the project’s presentation, Maria Elena Fort, Barcelona’s vice president for institutional affairs, shared a story about her grandfather, who wished to be buried near the club’s stadium so he could hear the crowd’s cheers when goals were scored after his death. The Guardian quoted Fort as saying that many Barcelona fans share this wish, which the new project aims to fulfill.

Architect Kike Montoya designed the memorial space, which will include four illuminated courtyards, a glass wall for commemorative plaques, and murals showcasing key moments from Barcelona’s history spanning more than 125 years. Urns containing ashes will be stored behind these murals in an area of approximately 1,500 square meters in the north stand of Camp Nou, close to the pitch. The site will have an independent entrance accessible outside match hours, as well as entry via Gate 35 during matches.

According to the project’s official website, the first phase is scheduled to open in late 2027, and the second phase in mid-2028. Fans can reserve spots in advance, whether they are club members or not. The Guardian reported that more than 1,000 fans have already booked places in the project, whose revenues are expected to help fund the Camp Nou renovation.

The initiative comes as Barcelona continues to upgrade its stadium, which opened in 1957, to increase its capacity to around 105,000 spectators, with renovation costs nearing 2 billion euros, according to the British newspaper. Other Spanish clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, and Espanyol, have previously dedicated memorial spaces for storing fans’ ashes within their stadiums, but Barcelona’s project will be the largest of its kind in Spain.