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FCB-Mo · 20-07-2005, 07:52 PM

The background (1948-1954)

Even though the first voices to call for the construction of a new stadium were heard in 1948, it was the huge expectation surrounding the arrival of Hungarian star Ladislau Kubala (June 1950) that suggested that Barca had outgrown the Les Corts stadium. The Old Ground had been founded back in 1922, and after several extensions, was able to hold 60,000 spectators, a figure that was practically impossible to increase any more. So, on September 19, 1950, FC Barcelonas Board of Directors, presided by Agusti Montal Galobart, purchased a plot of land next to the Maternitat, fairly close to the site of the old Les Corts ground.

A troublesome period followed, when the new stadiums commission (February 9, 1951) changed their minds about the site of the project, opting for an area at the top of the Diagonal. Negotiations with the Administrators bore little fruit and never reached a definitive agreement. The issue was left on hold until Francesc Miro-Sans was elected president of FC Barcelona (November 14, 1953). The new president was particularly insistent that the project for a new stadium should go ahead immediately and one of the first things he did after coming to power (February 18, 1954) was to situate the new site on the land purchased in 1950 and not at the top of the Diagonal. So it was that, on March 28, in front of 60,000 fans, he laid the first stone of the Camp Nou, watched by the president of the Civil Government, Felipe Acedo Colunga, and blessed by the Archbishop of Barcelona, Gregorio Modrego.

The construction (1954-1957)

The project for the new stadium was entrusted to the architects Francesc Mitjans Miro, Miro-Sans cousin, and Josep Soteras Mauri, under collaboration with Lorenzo GarciÃ*a Barbon. More than a year later, on July 11, 1955, the Club handed the construction rights to INGAR SA, who put forward an estimate for 66,620,000 pesetas for completion of the building in 18 months. However, the eventual cost was considerably higher than the original proposal, reaching 288 million pesetas, a figure that had to met by successive emissions of obligatory mortgages (100 million pesetas) and bank loans (60 million pesetas). This was enough to finance the construction of the stadium, but the Club would be repaying that debt for several years afterwards.

Source:FCBarcelona.com, edited by FCB-Mo

20-07-2005, 07:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
FCB-Mo TS Member Favourite Team: FC Barcelona and Arsenal FCB-Mo is Offline Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 435 vCash: 500 Rep: Rep Points: 59	The Camp Nou The background (1948-1954) Even though the first voices to call for the construction of a new stadium were heard in 1948, it was the huge expectation surrounding the arrival of Hungarian star Ladislau Kubala (June 1950) that suggested that Barca had outgrown the Les Corts stadium. The Old Ground had been founded back in 1922, and after several extensions, was able to hold 60,000 spectators, a figure that was practically impossible to increase any more. So, on September 19, 1950, FC Barcelonas Board of Directors, presided by Agusti Montal Galobart, purchased a plot of land next to the Maternitat, fairly close to the site of the old Les Corts ground. A troublesome period followed, when the new stadiums commission (February 9, 1951) changed their minds about the site of the project, opting for an area at the top of the Diagonal. Negotiations with the Administrators bore little fruit and never reached a definitive agreement. The issue was left on hold until Francesc Miro-Sans was elected president of FC Barcelona (November 14, 1953). The new president was particularly insistent that the project for a new stadium should go ahead immediately and one of the first things he did after coming to power (February 18, 1954) was to situate the new site on the land purchased in 1950 and not at the top of the Diagonal. So it was that, on March 28, in front of 60,000 fans, he laid the first stone of the Camp Nou, watched by the president of the Civil Government, Felipe Acedo Colunga, and blessed by the Archbishop of Barcelona, Gregorio Modrego. The construction (1954-1957) The project for the new stadium was entrusted to the architects Francesc Mitjans Miro, Miro-Sans cousin, and Josep Soteras Mauri, under collaboration with Lorenzo GarciÃ*a Barbon. More than a year later, on July 11, 1955, the Club handed the construction rights to INGAR SA, who put forward an estimate for 66,620,000 pesetas for completion of the building in 18 months. However, the eventual cost was considerably higher than the original proposal, reaching 288 million pesetas, a figure that had to met by successive emissions of obligatory mortgages (100 million pesetas) and bank loans (60 million pesetas). This was enough to finance the construction of the stadium, but the Club would be repaying that debt for several years afterwards. Source:FCBarcelona.com, edited by FCB-Mo __________________ "Ladies and gentleman, you've seen a great team here tonight. You've also seen Real Madrid." -- A commentator says it how it is during the Real Madrid - FC Barcelona match on N19.