Only the other way around

Seeing as the RFL likes it's gimmicks and seeing as how most of the fixtures don't look that appetising how about this. The fixtures are only decided the week before the magic weekend and are based on current league standings. This weekend games would look something like this.

Quins (13) v Dragons (14)
Crusaders (11) v Salford (12)
Rhinos (9) v Cas (10)
Rovers (7) v Wakey (icon_cool.gif
Bulls (5) v Hull (6)
Saints (3) v Giants (4)
Wigan (1) v Wolves (2)

Certainly throws up some more interesting games, and of course would be mainly based on teams current form so far so hopefully would be more closely contested games.

Royal Rumble style, I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Draw teams out of a hat 30 mins before kick-off, the 2 teams get out there and go for it, repeat until all 14 teams have played.

open the first game of the season with a double header, somewhere like Elland Road, CoM, St James' Park, 1st v 2nd and 3rd v 4th from the previous season as a stand alone weekend. These teams can then play in a new format WCC when the other teams make up their game in hand

there isnt a huge amount we can change the structure of the magic weekend, but there are many many smaller things we could be doing such as having the weekend as a 'heritage' weekend, with old style jerseys etc, getting the legends of the game more involved, have 28 legends up there 2 weeks before building interest, 2 from each team, get them in schools building links between different schools and different clubs,

If we wanted to go more radical we could look at using it for the fifth round of the challenge cup and see if we can get all 8 matches on the BBC, or even JJBs idea of a 9s tournemant with league points

I'm going this weekend, but it is increasingly looking like (because of problem's with the 'warp drive' on one of the Admiral's ships) that I am going to have to make a late run up there via the company vehicle (which just happens to be transporting Mrs Admiral to 'Dancing On Ice' in Birmingham). So, I am going to drive up Saturday afternoon and see the Leeds game only and come back again.... But nothing compared to Perth & back in the day to see Stenhousemuir win their only trophy in 1995 !

Anyway, here's my observations :

1 ) The problem that the RFL seem to have missed is that fans of the game are essentially parochial in nature. Most of them can't even stand other teams, let alone want to sit and watch them. About the only time most people sit around to watch a 'neutral' game live is the Cup Final in August. So, for me, the Magic 'weekend' actually stops about 8.45 on Saturday night when Leeds have finished.

2 ) Given that fans might not want to sit through a Sunday watching what they might class as 'dead rubber' games, then why bother going for the whole weekend ? The cost of a ticket, plus travel, plus somewhere to stay somewhere that has helpfully put the prices up (bet no-one is staying just off the Royal Mile for £40, like I did for work the other week, this weekend ...) then that puts the cost of the trip somewhere into the three figures already and at a time when people are generally looking to economise.

3 ) The RFL stupidly sold TV rights for the event as 'live'. Maybe they should show the games on a 30 minute delayed telecast.

4 ) I know I've banged on about this before, but out of the four Maig Weekends so far, Leeds have been the last fixture of the day in three of them. This makes it impossible for those than don't want to see other teams for the rest of the weekend, to get there and back by public transport (so you can at least have the occasional pint) which draws fans in to the issue of then having to spend a load more money to actually stay the night.

5 ) For the Challenge Cup Final in 2000, there was a special train laid on for the fans. I can't remember if this was done by the RFL or by one of the independant travel companies .... I'd strongly suspect that there'd be demand IF the ticket prices weren't too inflated. Again, this would make the 'there & back in a day' option far more comfortable.

6 ) London would be a good option for the reasons above and provided it was properly organised, the last games could finish in good time to get back to the heartlands if needed.

7 ) Onion doesn't seem to mind double or treble headers during the winter. I can't see Twickers been available for 7 games in 2 days during the time of the kick & clap 6 nations and has been mentioned, no Premiership team would have them any time during the wendyball season these days.

8 ) Splitting the start of the season with the opening game consisiting of all Lancs / Yorks ties played over a weekend might be do-able.

9 )I've always thought that RL should have the opening game of the season something like a repeat of the Grand Final (perhaps with the winners having home advantage) to give the other team instant chance of revenge. Or go down the 'charity shield' route and play Champions Vs Cup Winners first game of the season.

10) Maybe make the weekend a 'Festival Of League' .... Murrayfield has some good amateur pitches, why not have some BARLA type games on there as a break for fans ?

11) Why not level the weekend up with an eighth game ? Either something to do with the National Leagues or a National Leagues Vs NL Other Nationalities game ?

12 ) Incentivise the fans more to attend .... Goody bag ? Sponsor pack ? Free t-shirt ? All those sort of things. Arsenal managed it easily when Highbury shut down.

13 ) The ticketing issues last year didn't help ... Some people bought 'expensive' reserved seats, only to find those sections of the ground were easily accessable for the rest of us, who'd bought the cheap ground admission only tickets. Same Views = Less Cost

14 ) Start the day's kick off times earlier to allow an earlier finish (see No.4). IMO, the first games should be starting at 11.30 / Midday.

Admiral, a lot of your points relate to making it easier for daytrippers
would that be in the interest of the tourist board? When I day tripped to cardiff, we brought our own food and the ticket money goes to the RFL, so nothing for Cardiff - putting on late trains, moving to earlier kickoffs would lose hotels money and for that no city would pay, its about making money as well as spreading the game - it is not a coincidence leeds are last as they are the club with the biggest support

I went last year, and made a week of it, we booked early and got a nice apartment in central edinburgh pretty cheaply. We used it as our British holiday last year, and the value for money your ticket gives you was excellent. There were some pretty decent games too.

League fans should get off their @rses and be a little less insular. A 3 hour trip to Edinburgh is not a big trip. Thousands of football fans do it every week.

A good 10 minute slot of publicity on Radio 1 this morning too

Really like the 'Charity Shield' type idea Admiral. It's really disappointing how the season doesn't start off with a bang.

The players could not be prepared to play at any time from midday sat to 7pm sunday.

I like the idea of the first game of the season being a 'Charity Shield' match between the Champions and CC winners.

Too much emphasis is placed on the WCC at the start of the SL season, so most games limp in and seem irrelevant to the hyped up WCC

Maybe a 7's tournament on the Saturday followed by the WCC on the Sunday?
Even the team in the WCC would be able to put together some team for the 7's as well?

Im looking forward to sitting down with a brew and watching the entire round of fixtures, with all the banter that entails.

On the other hand, those people only up for a day still need feeding / watering / petrol etc. whilst they are there and it is all money in to the local economy.

You could also argue that with somewhere like Edinburgh, go for the game for the day and go for the weekend later in the year when the festival is on ?

At the moment, judging by the begging calls being knocked out by the RFL, they're desperare to get ANYONE (stayer or tripper) to attend and why not go for sheer weight of numbers of people going to make it a proper scene ?

There's always a first time for everything ....

I am making a 3 hour trip and an overnight stay for a sporting fixture this weekend. Go me