Palau Blaugrana

Palau Blaugrana (Catalan pronunciation: [pəˈlaw ˌβlawˈɣɾanə], meaning in English "Blue and deep red Palace") is an arena in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, belonging to FC Barcelona. The 7,585 seating capacity arena is home to the basketball, handball, roller hockey, and futsal divisions of FC Barcelona. Palau Blaugrana is located between Mini Estadi and the Camp Nou.

Palau Blaugrana
LocationBarcelona, Spain
Coordinates41°22′48.29″N 2°07′12.18″E
OwnerFutbol Club Barcelona
Capacity7,585
Construction
Opened23 October 1971
Renovated1994, 2016
Expanded1994
ArchitectFrancesc Cavaller
Tenants
FC Barcelona Bàsquet (ACB)
FC Barcelona Handbol (ASOBAL)
FC Barcelona Hoquei (OK Liga)
FC Barcelona Futsal (Primera División)

There's also an awards showcase and pro-shop inside.

History

Built in 1971, the stadium originally held 5,696 spectators, but the facility was remodeled in 1994, to fit the current capacity of 7,585. During the 1992 Summer Olympics, the arena hosted several events, including roller hockey, taekwondo and judo.[1] The arena's main court area was renovated in 2016.[2][3]

Retired numbers

Several basketball, handball, roller hockey and futsal players have had their jerseys retired:

Panoramical view during a EuroLeague basketball game in February 2008.

Nou Palau Blaugrana

Under Sandro Rosell's presidency, FC Barcelona announced that by 2013, it planned to build a new Palau Blaugrana for its handball and basketball teams, with a capacity of 12,000 seats. Also included in the plan, was a smaller campus with a capacity of 3,000 seats, plus [a special conditions] for hotel partners (operated by a specialist company located on the corner of Aristides Maillol with John XXIII), new parking spaces and an auditorium, with a 2,000 capacity, for the foundation, including the offices of the club. These plans, however, were later dropped in favour of the Espai Barça project.

Under the Espai Barça project, the current Palau Blaugrana will be demolished, and a new arena is expected to be built on the site currently occupied by the Mini Estadi, which will also be demolished to make way for the new arena.[4] Work is expected to start by the 2017–18 basketball season.[5] The Nou Palau Blaugrana will have a capacity of about 12,500 people with an adjacent, smaller court that will seat approximately 2,000. Additionally, the New Palau will have 24 VIP boxes and 4 sky bars with court views.[6]

See also

References

Media related to Palau Blaugrana at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Stade Pierre de Coubertin
Paris
Masters Cup
Venue

1972
Succeeded by
Boston Garden
Boston
Preceded by
Ginásio do Ibirapuera
São Paulo
FIBA Intercontinental Cup
Final Venue

1985
Succeeded by
Estadio Obras Sanitarias
Buenos Aires
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