RCDE Stadium

The need for a new stadium arose when RCD Espanyol lost their historic home at Estadio de Sarrià to property redevelopment in 1997. For over a decade the club shared the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic before finally securing a purpose-built venue of their own.

Construction and opening

Construction took three years, running from 2006 to 2009, with a total cost of approximately 60 million euros. The stadium opened in August 2009 under the name Estadi Cornella-El Prat, referencing the two municipalities it straddles. Within its first full year of operation it was named Venue of the Year at the prestigious Stadium Business Awards held in Dublin in June 2010, recognising the quality of both the build and the matchday experience.

Name changes

In 2013 the ground acquired the commercial name Power8 Stadium through a sponsorship deal. The name was later updated to RCDE Stadium in 2016, anchoring the venue's identity firmly to the club's initials — Real Club Deportivo Espanyol. That name has remained in use since.

Notable moments

Although Espanyol's greatest modern cup run — reaching the 2007 UEFA Cup Final — predated the stadium's opening, RCDE Stadium has hosted some dramatic moments of its own. The club endured relegation to Segunda División in 2020/21 and returned to La Liga the following season, making the ground the scene of both heartbreak and celebration. Every edition of El Derbi Barceloní hosted here is a landmark occasion in the stadium's calendar.

RCDE Stadium generates one of the most distinctive atmospheres in Spanish football, partly due to the compact and acoustically lively bowl design and partly due to the fierce pride of RCD Espanyol supporters in a city dominated by their neighbours.

Fan culture

Espanyol supporters — known as pericos (parakeets) — are defined by their loyalty to the smaller of Barcelona's two top-flight clubs. The club's identity has historically carried associations with Castilian and Spanish roots in contrast to FC Barcelona's Catalan identity, a tension that has long fuelled the rivalry and sharpened the sense of belonging on matchdays. The north stand hosts the most vocal supporter sections, while family areas and younger crowds populate the other ends.

El Derbi Barceloní

The season's defining fixture is El Derbi Barceloní against FC Barcelona, one of the most watched city derbies in world football. At RCDE Stadium, Espanyol supporters frequently produce the loudest and most committed atmosphere of the entire season, treating the match against their far more decorated neighbours as the highest-stakes game on the calendar. The derby is geographically unique — no two rival first-division clubs in Europe play their home matches closer to one another. Demand for derby tickets at RCDE Stadium always exceeds supply, and the stadium fills to capacity.

Big matches

Beyond the derby, European nights have provided RCDE Stadium's most memorable occasions. Espanyol's appearances in the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds attracted full houses and generated the kind of pan-European atmosphere the club's fans rarely experience. Each return to La Liga after the 2020/21 relegation season was celebrated with genuine passion at the ground.

Reaching RCDE Stadium from central Barcelona requires a combination of metro and commuter rail, but the journey is manageable with advance planning.

How to get there

• Metro + Cercanías: Metro line L5 to Cornella Centre, then approximately 20 minutes on foot; or Cercanías line R5 / FGC line L8 to Cornella-Riera or Sant Boi, around 25-30 minutes from central Barcelona
• FGC (suburban rail): From Placa Espanya take line L8 towards Sant Boi del Llobregat — one of the fastest and most direct routes
• Car: Motorway B-23, exit Cornella; parking is available near the stadium but fills quickly on matchdays
• Bus: Local bus connections from Cornella de Llobregat town centre; reinforced services operate on matchdays

Tickets and tours

RCD Espanyol sell match tickets through the official club website and at the stadium box office. Derby fixtures and high-profile La Liga matches sell out well in advance. Occasional guided stadium tours are offered covering the players' tunnel and dressing rooms — availability should be confirmed directly with the club.

Visitor tips

• When to arrive: At least 60 minutes before kick-off; public transport can be busy after evening matches
• Weather: The Barcelona area enjoys a Mediterranean climate; winter fixtures are mild and summer evenings pleasant for travel
• Food and drink: Concession stands operate throughout the stadium concourses; dining options in the immediate surroundings are limited, with a better selection available in Cornella de Llobregat town centre