As the Barça squad gears up for the second half of the season, it has been revealed that attendances at the Camp Nou have increased by 14% compared to last season.

The average crowd is now 77,587 while gate proceeds have risen by 22%.

The General Manager of FC Barcelona, Joan Oliver, made these figures public after a meeting of the Delegate Commission on Friday. He told us: “This is a positive situation. More season ticket holders are coming to the stadium and we’re selling more tickets”.

9,579 spectators

Over the first half of last season, the average attendance was 68,008 as against 77,587 so far this season, an increase of 9,579 spectators per match, or 14% more than last year: “Children under 7 are not included in these figures as they enjoy free admission to the Camp Nou. So we have to add on some 3,000 children per match – that’s the usual average”.

Season ticket holders

“This year, about 45% of season ticket holders are releasing their seats for resale, which means we can sell more tickets. Although this is 5% up on last season we still think it’s insufficient. If everyone released their seats [when they cannot come to the match], others members and fans without a season ticket could come to the ground. However, our stadium has the highest attendances in Europe”.

The increase in attendances has led to a rise in gate proceeds of 22% compared to the same period last season.

Redevelopment plan moving forward

Mr Oliver also gave details of the progress of the project to redevelop the MiniEstadi. He expressed his confidence that the entire project would be approved and pointed out that FC Barcelona had accepted some tough conditions: “On Thursday 28th January, the Barcelona City Council is scheduled to approve a project to build on the site currently occupied by the MiniEstadi. This development will have more public housing than any other in Barcelona and Barça will not make a cent. We’ve also taken on some commitments that will mean a cost of 30% of the total, more than double that required by the law”. Mr Oliver confirmed that the work would not start before 2011.