Palau Blaugrana to complete improvements started for 50th anniversary
FC Barcelona will continue the work on the Palau Blaugrana that began with the commemoration of its 50th anniversary. New actions are set to improve the inside of the pavilion and the experience for all the guests, members, season ticket holders and fans. The vast majority of this work is focused on modernising the catering areas, creating a new VIP lounge with views of the court and improving some of the most visible elements of the Palau. The work that began yesterday, Monday 3 October will continue over the next few months and is scheduled to be completed in December.
Almost a year ago, half a century had passed since the inauguration of the Palau Blaugrana on 23 October 1971, and the anniversary celebrations opened a year of activities in which the club has paid tribute to the teams, athletes and professionals who have turned the Palau into an icon of FC Barcelona. Last season the first actions were carried out to improve the fan experience, with the renovation of the electronic scoreboard, the replacement of the court lighting and a new public address system. In the summer, new follow spot lighting was installed, together with a new court surface.
Further refurbishments are on the way, modernising some of the busiest spaces and giving it a more Barça feel so that fans can feel the magic of the Palau even more strongly. Work is to be done on the catering zones, specifically the Lateral bar, the Ice Rink bar, the Grandstand A and B bars and, on the first floor, the Gol Nord and Gol Sud bars, and the one for visiting fans. New flooring is to be put in pace, and the walls and ceilings will e given a Barça feel with blaugrana stripes and inspirational messages taking centre stage. The bar and all other interior spaces will also be renovated, including LED menu screens and Click & Collect points.
There will also be new recycling points, reminding suporters of the importance of sustainability and planet-friendly practices.
New VIP lounge and BLM points of sale
To make better use of an area of the Palau with reduced visibility, a new 58 square metre VIP lounge will be created at the top of the first tier of Gol Nord. The aesthetic will be inspired by the Barça Cafe, the restaurant on Rambla Barça, and the space will be open to the court so fans can watch games from there. Visibility will be complemented by LED screens to ensure that fans using this new VIP space don't miss a thing.
Another change is the creation of two fixed points of sale for BLM (Barça Licensing & Merchandising) products, one in the Lateral area and the other in the Grandstand. Fans will be able to buy the official 2022/23 kits, training gear and exclusive 100% Barça collections that are only available at the points of sale managed directly by the club.
100% Barça ambience and more efficient lighting
As in the restaurant areas, the Barça colours will also feature on all the exposed brick walls that surround the stands. Blaugrana stripes will be painted all over the surface together with such slogans as Visca Barça, Culers and Blaugrana, among others. The Palau lighting will also be made more efficient through the installation of LED lamps on the court, to be complemented in the following months by new Barça-themed lighting in the domed rood. Additionally, new static advertising LED screens will be installed behind the goals.
Once the work is finished, other actions are planned to imrpove the exits and access to the Presidential Box.
