FC Barcelona will say goodbye to the Miniestadi on Tuesday 24 September with the ‘Gràcies, Mini!’ event and from the month of October the planned work will begin for the gradual demolition of the stadium that was opened in 1982 and has been the home ground for Barça B and for the Barça Women’s team and U19s during their European campaigns.

The demolition of the stadium will be done mechanically over a period of six months to allow the possibility of recycling more than 80% of the material and minimising the impact on the neighbouring community.

The work of architect Josep Casala and engineer Ramon Domènech, the Miniestadi was built over a period of nine months with a capacity of 15,276. With the Estadi Johan Cruyff now open, the first piece in the Espai Barça jigsaw, the stadium in Les Corts will be dismantled to make way for the New Palau Blaugrana, another of the key pieces in the Club’s plans for the modernising of the Club’s facilities which culminates in the work to be done to create the Camp Nou of the future.

Prior work

Before the demolition of the Miniestadi begins, prior work will be carried out such as the removal of seats which will be donated to other sporting entities or schools that have requested them. Other non-brick and cement elements will be removed in line with Health and Safety regulations and WHO recommended methods in order to be recycled.

Demolition method

The demolition of the Ministadi and the Barça Escola stand will be done mechanically and gradually in order to minimise the impact on the residents living close the stadium. In January 2020 the passageway linking Camp Nou and Miniestadi is planned to be removed, also in such a way as to minimise the impact on the daily workings of the surrounding area.

Recycling and sustainability

The Club has placed great importance on recycling and sustainability during the planning of the dismantling and demolition of the Miniestadi. 80% of the material from the process will be recycled and reused. Some structural elements will be recycled and used in future works in the Espai Barça project.

Protection of animals and trees

Another aspect taken into consideration is the wildlife, flora and fauna to be found in the area where the Miniestadi currently sits. The colony of bats that flourish in the area have been relocated into an nest with room for more than 400 of the animals whilst the feral cat population has been moved to other sites within Catalonia. The Club has agreed with the Barcelona City Council to maintain in some more or other 85% of the trees in the area.

The land for the New Palau Blaugrana

Once the demolition and dismantling of the Miniestadi has taken place then the land will be available for the New Palau Blaugrana and the new metro stop on the L9 line at Camp Nou. The facility will have four distinct areas that will be able to function independently; the New Palau, the Mini Palau, the ice rink and the Barça Escola area with an underground coach station included.