Recently crowned Spanish Liga champion Barcelona could raise around €200m ($227m) by selling the naming rights to its Camp Nou stadium, according to president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Bartomeu, speaking at the unveiling of a report by financial consultants Deloitte on the economic impact Barcelona has on its home city’s economy, said that a “trade name” could be added to the iconic Camp Nou moniker, which would retain its traditional name within any deal.
Funds from a naming rights agreement would help to finance Espai Barça, a project including redevelopment of the Camp Nou and the building of the new Palau Blaugrana stadium and complex with an estimated overall cost of €600m. Bartomeu said any prospective naming rights deal would run for 15 or 20 years.
“Of the €600m investment needed for Espai Barça, €200m will be financed by a credit institution, €200m more will be from our own funds and a further €200m will come from the commercial sale of the name of the stadium,” Bartomeu added, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
“The Espai Barça project is one approved by the shareholders, an ambitious project that will improve our club, but also the district of Les Corts and the city. With it, we will have the best stadium in the world and magnificent facilities that will be the pride of Barcelona and the country.”
Reports in February said Qatar Airways could add a stadium naming rights element to its sponsorship of Barcelona as both parties negotiate a possible extension to their current deal.
Barcelona is currently engaged in a five-year deal, from 2011-12 to 2015-16, with Qatar Sports Investment worth a total of €160m. Qatar Airways is currently the club’s shirt sponsor under the agreement.