Last Friday, nearly 50 American supporters arrived at Barcelona airport with the aim of enjoying a full Barça weekend in the city. It was the so-called “USA Penyes Barça Tour”, promoted by the Penya Blaugrana of Houston and coordinated by the FCB World Federation under the leadership of its treasurer Josep Antoni Martin, who managed accommodation, travel, and visits. Besides the PB Houston, supporters from Penya Barcelonista Nova York, Penya Barcelonista Washington DC, Penya Blaugrana Los Angeles, and Penya Barcelonista San Francisco also took part in the trip. And the experience could not have been more successful.
Talk at the Confederació Mundial de Penyes
The Penya members began the weekend with a reception at the headquarters of the Confederació Mundial de Penyes, which, together with the FCB World Federation, also collaborated in this initiative of the North American supporters’ clubs. There, they attended a talk by Vicenç Notari, treasurer of the Confederació, who reviewed the history of the supporters’ clubs movement, as well as explaining its growing evolution and social impact in recent years.
On Saturday afternoon, the American supporters took the opportunity to take a tour of the Museum and Camp Nou, as well as visiting the Barça Store near to the blaugrana stadium. The day ended with a gastronomic experience in one of the most typical streets of Poble Sec.
Matches at Johan Cruyff and Camp Nou
On Sunday morning, the supporters first went to the Johan Cruyff stadium, where they enjoyed watching live the great victory of the women’s team against Villarreal (5-0). In the afternoon, they went to the Spotify Camp Nou, where they were received by the Club representatives. Afterwards, they were able to celebrate a new blaugrana victory with the 1-0 win of the men’s team against Valencia, which allows them to consolidate the leadership in La Liga.
In fact, the opportunity to visit the Spotify Camp Nou before its remodelling was one of the main reasons for this trip, the first to be made jointly by the American supporters’ clubs. Next year, they plan to repeat the experience; on the other hand, they are already impatiently awaiting the dates and places of the pre-season tour to see the team live again.
