Les Corts

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Les Corts was built as a result of a long-term plan by the club president, Joan Gamper, to provide FC Barcelona with its own stadium. It replaced the Camp de la Indústria as the home of FC Barcelona. Inaugurated in 1922, the initial capacity was 20,000. The first game played at the ground was between FC Barcelona and St Mirren. On 13 May 1923, the stadium hosted the Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and CE Europa and on 21 December 1924 Les Corts hosted a game between Spain and Austria. On 14 June 1925, the stadium was the scene of an incident that saw it closed for six months. During a game, FC Barcelona fans jeered the Spanish national anthem and then applauded God Save the King, performed by a visiting British Royal Marine band. The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera accused Joan Gamper of promoting Catalan nationalism. Les Corts was shut down and Gamper was expelled from Spain. The stadium was the home of FC Barcelona during two of its most successful eras. During the 1920s with coach Jack Greenwell and players such as Paulino Alcántara, Sagibarba, Ricardo Zamora, Josep Samitier, Félix Sesúmaga and Franz Platko, the club dominated the Campionat de Catalunya and emerged as one of the top clubs in Spain. The club built on that success and also won the first ever La Liga while based at Les Corts. By the late 1940s, FC Barcelona had outgrown Les Corts. The stadium had been extended on several occasions, reaching a final capacity of 60,000. However, there was no room for further expansion and in 1950 the club began to make plans for a new stadium, the Camp Nou. The club moved to its new stadium upon its inauguration on 24 September 1957. After the closure of Les Corts, the club began a long, ultimately successful, process to rezone the property to allow for residential and commercial use. Demolition of the old stadium began on 2 February 1966. Of the 26,990 m2 (290,500 sq ft) property, 15,300 m2 (165,000 sq ft) were then rebuilt as parks and sports facilities (basketball and hockey courts, swimming pools, etc.). Residential and commercial buildings were erected on the rest of the site.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the turf as the final whistle approached at Les Corts. The air hung heavy with the scent of cut grass and the deafening roar of 'Visca el Barça!' vibrating off the concrete terraces. Ladislao Kubala, sweat glistening on his brow, trapped a high ball with the effortless grace of a dancer before unleashing a thunderous shot that ripped into the net. The stadium erupted—a churning sea of blaugrana scarves waving in unison. In that electric instant, the 60,000 souls present weren't just spectators; they were witnesses to history being etched into soil that would soon be turned over for a new chapter. As the players bowed, the ground itself seemed to hold its breath, solemnly surrendering its soul to build something greater.

Reader's Guide

The stadium was located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the home of FC Barcelona from 1922 to 1957. The first game was between FC Barcelona and St Mirren. The stadium hosted the 1923 Copa del Rey final and a 1924 international between Spain and Austria. It was closed for six months after an incident on 14 June 1925. Demolition began on 2 February 1966.

Did You Know?

• The initial capacity of Les Corts was 20,000, later expanded to 60,000.
• The stadium was built under club president Joan Gamper to replace Camp de la Indústria.
• Les Corts was shut down for six months after fans jeered the Spanish national anthem in 1925.
• The first game at Les Corts was a friendly between FC Barcelona and St Mirren.