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Laporta’s plan to expand the Johan Cruyff clashes with the municipal limit
The future of Estadio Johan Cruyff has sparked a dispute between FC Barcelona and Sant Joan Despí City Council. The club proposes expanding capacity to 16,000 spectators, while the council considers a maximum close to 10,000 viable.
The need to expand reflects Barça's current situation. With Spotify Camp Nou under construction, the stadium is being considered as an alternative, as well as a way of consolidating the rise of women's football. However, the difference between the two positions reflects a clash between sporting ambition and urban constraints.
The Ayuntamiento, led by Belén García, insists that the main issue is not only technical but also one of coexistence. Every match already puts pressure on traffic and parking, and a larger expansion could worsen the impact on residents.
The municipal proposal is to add around 4,000 seats, enough to meet competition requirements without excessively disrupting the area's balance. It also calls for strengthened public-transport use and limits on access by private vehicle.
Cost is also a factor. The required investment is around €14 million, a figure that would be difficult to recoup solely through the activity of the reserve and women's teams. For now, the project remains at an early stage, awaiting an agreement that reconciles sporting interests with urban reality.
The debate reflects an increasingly common challenge: how to expand major infrastructure without affecting neighbourhood life. The outcome will shape the stadium's future and its role in Barcelona's metropolitan area.