FCBARCELONA.CAT

06.07.2007 13:35

Barça request home game on Sept. 23

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barça have asked the Professional Football League and the Spanish Federation if they can play away from home on the opening day of the new season to ensure that the fourth game of the season would be at Camp Nou on the anniversary of the stadium.

The 2007/08 campaign begins on the weekend of August 26/27, but the fixture has not yet been released. If the Blaugrana are granted their wish and play at away first, then on the fourth day, September 23, the 50th anniversary of Camp Nou would be celebrated with a home game.

Organising events

The body responsible for organising the events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the construction of Camp Nou are already working on the basis that Barça will be at home on the crucial weekend. Their first act was to introduce a new home kit with the motif celebrating half-a-century since Camp Nou was inaugurated.

September 24, 1957

The stadium, which has the highest capacity in Europe, was opened on September 24, 1957 and a series of events were organised to mark the occasion, including a friendly game between Barça and a team from Warsaw. In front of around 90,000 spectators in the new stadium, that was not yet completed, members of several football teams from across Catalunya paraded on the pitch, alongside members of the various Barça teams, supporters' clubs and other groups connected to the organisation.

Then the 'Hyman to the Stadium' was played and at half past four the first ever game in Camp Nou kicked off. During the half-time interval, 1,500 people from the Agrupación Cultural Folclórica danced on the pitch and 10,000 doves were released.