FC Barcelona has been struggling with financial issues since 2020. The struggles are well documented and have impacted the club on multiple magnitudes. However, the club has come up with a unique solution to ease the pressure amidst the renovation of their current stadium.
The Spanish club announced the memorabilia project on October 26 with an official release of the club website announcing that the club will be selling sentimental and historical articles related to the current home stadium, Camp Nou.
Tell me you are broke without telling me you are broke 😭😭
— MusialaHub 💫 (@FCB_Arthur7) November 7, 2023
Camp Nou is at present being renovated and rebuilt from scratch, which provided the opportunity for the club to earn some with the old stadium. As part of the memorabilia project, diamonds are developed from the carbon in the soil from the last-ever game at the stadium against RCD Mallorca on May 28, 2023.
A few days after the announcement, the diamonds were added to the shop of the club for fans. They can buy single-carat diamonds valued at around $16,000. In other options, half-carat diamonds are available for $2,670. All these diamonds include an NFT that can help the buyers authenticate their traceability via blockchain.
This is actually embarrassing
— Jack (@J4CKMULL) November 7, 2023
The hustler-like operations from the Spanish club were new ammo for online fans who had a field day trolling the third most valuable club in the world, valued at $5.5 billion. Some fans appreciated the hustle of the Spanish club, while others made fun of the financial struggles of the European powerhouse.
Comments like “They are becoming hustlers now,” “Tell me you are broke without telling me you are broke,” “They should just open a GOFUNDME,” “They’re becoming desperate,” “This is actually embarrassing,” and “Brokelona” echoed the sentiments of the fans.
FC Barcelona put many items of Camp Nou on sale as part of the memorabilia project
Apart from the soil, other parts of Camp Nou are being sold as part of the memorabilia project. Seats, turf, and nets from the stadium are also available to fans for purchase. In the case of seats, they will be available only to the season ticket holders till November 13.
From November 14 to 27, non season ticket holders can buy the seats and after that, they will be available to the public. Three different designs are available for seats. The original turf from the pitch, either on wood or methacrylate is available to purchase. Apart from turf, sections of goal nets are also available to fans around the world.
Barcelona are selling old Camp Nou seats for up to €300 and grass from €50 in new ‘memorabilia’ project 💰 pic.twitter.com/RzaUY25d2e
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 26, 2023
Barcelona are slowly and surely recovering economically, their wage bill has been reduced under Joan Laporta’s leadership. Meanwhile, ticket sales and revenue are slowly back up after initial slump after COVID-19. This latest effort from the club is commendable and holds more nostalgic sentiment instead of economic benefit.
The online fan base had their fun with the news but for some seasonal ticket holders as well as hardcore fans around the world, the memorabilia from Camp Nou will hold a high sentimental value. The inflow from the memorabilia project will hardly put a dent in the financial struggles of the club.