The two football clubs they've done so far have large worldwide fan-bases (probably very popular in Denmark), so on paper there is a market for them. I've seen some alternative Lego brands do stadium sets for most football clubs. I suspect the “Camp Nou” signage and impressive glass wall will be the angle most fans choose to showcase this from, though. Camp Nou is a stadium that has borne witness to some of club football’s most revered and decorated teams, and celebrated some of the game’s most gifted stars. Written into its history are names like Johan Cruyff, who brought a Dutch footballing philosophy to Barcelona that is still followed to this day; any number of foreign greats like Diego Maradona, Hristo Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho; and, held with such pride, youth team graduates from La Masia who among others include Pep Guardiola, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.

As of now, we can epect to see the LEGO Camp Nou stadium launch later this fall come October, but an official release date has yet to be confirmed. It’ll most likely launch come the first of the month given the usual trend with new debuts. Pricing on the other hand is a little more up in the air. That’s not to say that 10284 Camp Nou – FC Barcelona is a carbon copy of 10272 Old Trafford – Manchester United. There’s a base template and set of construction rules that both stadiums (and presumably any more that may come) follow that provides the framework that the more expressive and individualistic elements of the respective stadiums are then built around. 10284 Camp Nou – FC Barcelona may remind you in places of 10272 Old Trafford – Manchester United, but it’s also very much its own beast of a 5,509-piece LEGO set. (More on that later.) The new LEGO FC Barcelona Camp Nou set allows you to create a spectacular 5,509-piece model that is sure to take centre stage in any fan’s home. I don't care for it, but there are people who will so there's nothing wrong with this thing's existence"Putting the two stand sections together with the playing field gives you an idea of how things are progressing. This “half-shell” amphitheater would almost work as a smaller display option, except for the exposed scaffolding under the seats. It wouldn’t be super difficult to custom build a “cover” for the sides if you wanted to, though. From a LEGO perspective, Camp Nou is architecturally a fascinating subject matter to study, and one that makes 10284 Camp Nou – FC Barcelona a very interesting model, in shape, design and colour. All that is immediately obvious in the set that sits before us, just as is the fact that at first glance there are clear echoes of 10272 Old Trafford – Manchester United throughout.

In good times and in bad, Barca is a club with an identity like no other, one that is connected to its people in such a unique way, and one that presents Camp Nou as more than just a football stadium of architectural wonder, but a home like no other. From the structure and tones of the base through to particular parts and techniques used to construct the supporting framework of the stadium, and from the unique printed parts used for the football pitch and the particular way in which the seating has been built, there’s plenty that worked so well in 10272 Old Trafford – Manchester United that logically has carried over into the design of 10284 FC Barcelona Camp Nou. One of the final details to be added is some flex tubing along the top edge. Surprisingly it’s not just decorative, but also functional. The edge of tubing that overlaps the stadium roof actually holds the white panel down flush with the wall.

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Once built, that is thanks to this continued and – even though we talk about it a great deal – still underappreciated level of attention to detail that the LEGO Group brings to sets in this current era of design. Granted, the wider audience for this LEGO for Adults set may only come into this model with a broad knowledge of the subject matter. Importantly, then, if all you know of Camp Nou is the coloured seats and the general shape of the overall stadium and its four stands, and you like football and LEGO, then 10284 Camp Nou – FC Barcelona immediately impresses. You build the stadium in quarters and these wrap around the central pitch to complete the model, and whatever resentment you may feel for how long that took you, it all dissipates because what sits before you just instantly sings as a LEGO set. The contrast in colour between the exterior and interior is perfect and as vibrant as the real thing, and the sheer size of the set is as impressive as you would hope it to be.