Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

Lore & Background

Designed by architect Pere Domènech i Roura for the 1929 International Exposition, the stadium was officially opened on 20 May 1929. The opening ceremonies included Spain's first official rugby international game against Italy, and a friendly football match between the Catalan national team and Bolton Wanderers, which the Catalan team won by a shocking score of 4–0 with goals from Josep Samitier (2), Martí Ventolrà and Manuel Parera. It was meant to host the People's Olympiad in 1936, a protest event against the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, but the event had to be canceled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. In the fifties, the stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games, and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup final between Barcelona and Espanyol, the two local clubs. In the seventies, the stadium was disused and the stands deteriorated. When the Spanish Grand Prix and other races were held at the Montjuïc racing circuit, the stadium was used as a paddock for the teams. Due to safety concerns, the 1975 F1 race was nearly boycotted by drivers. During Barcelona's bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the stadium was totally renovated with the involvement of Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti. The stadium was gutted, preserving parts of the original facades, and new grandstands were built. In 1989, the venue was re-inaugurated for the 1989 IAAF World Cup in Athletics, and three years later it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and all the athletics competitions of the Olympic Games and also the same functions during the Paralympics. The stadium served as the home of Espanyol from 1997 until 2009. It also served as the home of the Barcelona Dragons American football team from 1991 until 2002. Because the size of the playing surface was slightly shorter than the regulation American football length, the stadium only had seven-yard end zones, three yards shorter than regulation NFL size in 1991 and 1992. They were later lengthened to the standard ten yards. The stadium also played host to the National Football League's American Bowl in 1993 and in 1994. The San Francisco 49ers played the Pittsburgh Steelers on 1 August 1993. The second game was played on 31 July 1994 between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Denver Broncos. In 2001, the stadium was renamed after the former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Lluís

In Their Own Story

The air in Montjuïc feels different tonight; it carries the scent of old stone mixed with fresh-cut grass. As the floodlights hum to life, casting long shadows across the running track that once hosted Olympic sprinters, a hush falls over the crowd. A young boy grips his scarf, eyes wide as the familiar blue and red jerseys emerge from the tunnel. The roar is not just for the team; it is for history itself. When the ball is kicked off on this ancient pitch, the world shrinks to the space between the lines, where the ghosts of 1929 and the dreams of tomorrow dance together in perfect harmony.

Reader's Guide

The stadium is located in the Anella Olímpica on Montjuïc, a hill southwest of Barcelona overlooking the harbor. It has a current capacity of 55,926 seats. It served as FC Barcelona's home ground for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons during Camp Nou redevelopment, and again briefly at the start of the 2027–28 season for roof installation. It was the home of Espanyol from 1997 to 2009 and of the Barcelona Dragons from 1991 to 2002. Major events include the 1992 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the 1989 IAAF World Cup, the 2010 European Athletics Championships, and the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was officially opened on 20 May 1929 with Spain's first official rugby international and a friendly football match where the Catalan national team beat Bolton Wanderers 4–0.
• It was renamed in 2001 after Lluís Companys, the 123rd president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, who was executed at Montjuïc Castle in 1940.
• During the 1992 Olympics, the stadium had a capacity of 67,007 seats, but it was later reduced to 55,926.
• The stadium hosted the only national football cup final between Barcelona and Espanyol in 1957.