(As opposed to Redprintt) I spent the weekend in Barcelona, and although the weather was more akin to that of Manchester I felt compelled to realise a dream and head for the Camp Nou. The place is enormous ! Wembley-like in fact, and steeped in football legend. Unlike Sir Steve, I didn't take the tour (money !), but the evidence of what he was saying about the Basketball, etc etc was very much in yer face with the stadium 'outhouses' which cater for such pastimes. And for further evidence, when I returned to the hotel I found Barca TV, which was showing the under 11 team destroying some quite good young kids in green. Other sports were featured, with male and female teams wearing the famous claret and purple stripes. It left me thinking what a good idea FCB TV was, and what a cool thing it would be for BCFC. Pics are included, and I would like to thank my forever enduring darling Katy for persevering and humouring me on what was a real anorak's day out. Barcelona is, by the way, a fabulous city. I rate it in my top 4 places visited, and recommend it most highly if you get the chance to go
I have been there and done the tour Amazing place. Museum packed with trophies. Just like the new Ashton Gate museum will be. A new era is dawning.
Went there for my Sons 16th Birthday and it's a city I'd return to again. The stadium tour is brilliant, especially when you walk down the tunnel and find that your are separated from the opposition by heavy gauge wire mesh. The highest seats would give you vertigo and sunburn in equal quantities !!
I have been to the Nou Camp twice, once foir the Museum and a match versusd Valladolid. Been to Barcelona five times and if it wasn't so expensive or so far away from Ashton Gate, I would happily live there. Fabulous city.
watched a coupe of games in the Nou camp including England years back . Not that impressed by the stadium itself as terh atmosphere was not all that and its a big bowl. Really liked the stadium tour. But it no blueprint for City BS is a very diffeent thing and City fans will have no say in BCFC unlike the socios of Barcelona. Quite like the City but prefer other Cities in europe but like many had an incident with a team of muggers just off La Ramblas where Bristol City came out on top.
If city fans had any say in the running of the club, then we would not be with the rugby, women's football and the rest. So I'm throwing this one out there, but even though the clubs owned by one family I would think we are closer to the Barcelona blue print than we would be. Even though I hate using Barcelona in the same context as us. Fans owning clubs like the Europeans in this country would never work. Lovely city, would recommend it. Surely the Millenium stadium is a bowl? If you've ever been there on rugby international day like the Twickenham and all the others the places are buzzing, I've always been of the opinion it's the fans who create atmosphere.
Been to the Millennium when we beat Carlisle and when we lost to BHA. Have also been there for a Speedway GP and for a concert. The atmosphere has been brilliant on every occasion
Been to Barcelona several times both to visit as a City and to the Nou camp..enjoyed it every time. A blueprint for Bristol? Yeah why not, its a successful blueprint so use it as much as possible, it won't fit entirely as they do things differently in Spain. but yeah jig it around and stick with it!
I've been to Barcelona several times and love the City I've been to the Camp Nou twice - once on a stadium/museum tour and once to see Barca v Villareal (Villareal won 2-1) - to be honest the atmosphere was a bit disappointing
funny to see Valladolid crop up on this site, that's where half the wifes side of the family are from (the other half from Madrid),so seen several games there and always had a great time, even had decent local cider there,!
My wife and I visited there a couple of times when we lived in Central Portugal. I got the locals to teach me the correct pronunciation of the city's name. Confusing to begin with. A "V" that sound like B and LL that sounds like J.
its easy if have a lisp.! but had a text last week congratulating us, so we have a fan base in Valladolid.
Spent a lot of time in Barca but only went to Camp Nou once - for the stadium tour - no game. Also the Olympic Stadium where Espanyol play. Love the city - its cheap to actually get to - but bloody expensive once you arrive! Best stay away from Las Ramblas if you want a decent meal without being pestered by street entertainers all the time you are trying to eat.
Seen Barcelona, Espanyol and CE Europa play during a two week stay where a group of us had rented a villa very near the Sagrada Familia. CE Europa barely had any fans but manged to be noisier than Barca. Bristol Sport being compared to the Barcelona model. Behave!
blimey - looks like i was the only one in Bristol who HADNT been to Barca So now we have all been. Me and Mrs Brightred had a memorable time, and to visit one of football's world famous stadiums was inspiring (though I am already inspired after the season we have had) Cliftonville - you don't listen to Lansdown then- he has said it enough times
