The outskirts of the Camp Nou are filling up as game time approaches. Lifelong members make their way through the tide of Blaugrana fans from all corners of the world, card and scarf in hand. La Vanguardia spoke with some of them in the first home game after announcing the conditions of the move to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Tuesday. The rise in prices, the number of seats allocated to members and the difficulties in accessing Montjuïc are the main points of tension for a social mass that is more resigned than angry.
“We have no other choice. You have to fix the field and the capacity of Montjuïc is what it is. We have to assimilate it”, was the opinion of Gustau Apagà, member number 59,256. "We understand that in exceptional situations, exceptional measures," seconded Josep Duarri (86,249), who is concerned above all about access to the stadium: "We live an hour from here and getting in and out of there will be a problem. We will do a sabbatical year, and that even during the pandemic we always came ”.
Enrique Caicedo (64,250) will also take a year of leave for the same reason. Of course, he recognized that if Messi returns to Barça, he will think about it. Caicedo was understandable with the club, but regretted the increase in the cards: "I understand that the club has to recover part of the investment, but I think that the member is not being taken care of well." “The zone markings that have been made do not seem right to me. I am on the side of the last tier and I have seen prices of 700 euros, it seems exorbitant to me, ”he added.
One of the aspects that most worries members is the distribution of seats announced by the club: 27,385 for members and another 22,087 for sale and commitments. "The club is owned by the members, they should have a higher percentage of seats," denounced Apagà, who believes "the sentimental part of the club is being lost." "There are many foreigners who come to see Barça because they are famous, not because they feel the colors," he explained. Many partners agreed with him. Duarri lamented the "coldness" that this causes in the field and fears that the increase in the price of the cards will make it worse: "The numbers have to add up, I understand it, but that 40% of the seats remain reserved for people from outside harms the faithful partner”. Eric Baldú (107,816) was more forceful: “It seems that everything is set up in order to sell tickets to tourists. It has looked more for them than for the partners. If we are few now, next year we will be even fewer”. Apagà understands, in part, that the delicate financial situation of the club
Not only the members, the transfer to Montjuïc will also affect the supporters clubs that Barça has all over the country. María Inmaculada Cubillo (128,199), from the Peña Barcelonista El Zorro Culé (Badajoz) regretted that with the cut in seats it would be impossible to see a Barça game next season: “We won't be able to come. They have already warned us that we are not going to have tickets and it is a shame. The club could reserve an area for the supporters clubs, ”she claimed.
