June 2nd and 3rd, Manchester. It should be decent weather and good crowds. www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... witterfeed

June 2nd and 3rd, Manchester. It should be decent weather and good crowds. www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... witterfeed

At last they've kept it within the heartlands and i reckon more will attend this than the other versions.

Agreed they will but most will attend their own match and go home. Some like sherbert may attend own match free then go home

Thought the whole idea of the Magic Weekend concept was the showcase the game and 'spread the word'. Manchester - how thoroughly dismal. St. James Park, Villa Park, Hampden Park - 3 venues far more likely to entice me out of my armchair. Or - here's an idea - Cardiff, just not at the beginning of Feb! The RFL really don't like Wales after all, do they?!?

I can see the idea behind it, but I'm not 100% a fan. I may go, because its a good opportunity to get to see a load of games I wouldn't normally have, but I can't see that it has the benefits that the previous magic weekends had, those being:
* A Day away
* Spreading the word to other parts of the country
* A big fat cheque from the city who hosts it in lieu of the boost to tourism that 50k people will bring.

I can't see how it benefits the game. Though the RFL may have decided that after the Welsh farce that expansion of the game should be shelved for a few more years

This smacks of one of those occasions where people have done something for a while, then lost track of the reasons they did it. This fulfills none of the purposes of the Magic weekend. I bet you that although the aggregate attendance may well be higher, the stadium will be mostly empty at any given time as people will just nip over for their own team's games. It is, after all, a shorter away trip than a lot of normal SL games.

Only my opinion, but this is now a total waste of time.

Also disappointed my "Ricoh Arena Magic" weekend hasn't come off......

I think the Midlands would have been a perfect venue. Some decent sized stadiums to fill. Not such a far trip that people won't bother. Close enough to do there and back in a day. Far enough to be worth a weekend. as well as a blossoming Amateur scene to support it.

I'm not sure what to think of this move. Despite attending most away matches i've only ever been to one Magic weekend, but I will definitely be attending this one. However I thought the whole concept was to create a unique carnival atmosphere...and this stadium location, without travelling into Manc centre, is not to be desired. I hope we get some good games on the date of ours otherwise I can see myself attending just for our game.

I can assure you that Manchester is a great place to have Magic Weekend. I live in Manchester and there is without a doubt an underlying interest in rugby league but no real knowledge. It'll be hard to crack through the football barrier but with the right advertisement and marketing it could be a great occasion. Many people would without a doubt enjoy the games and I'm sure it will be one of the best attendances at a magic weekend yet by new or neutral supporters

Oh well, maybe next time

Depends what you want the Magic Weekend for.

Previously we've made a weekend of it. Won't be doing this time. No point staying in a hotel 56 minutes from home! So on a personal level I'm disappointed that I don't get a weekend away out of it. Will be going for our game, probably depending on scheduling catch another game or two that same day. No overnight though.

On an unselfish level... I think it's a good idea for the game in general. The crowds and atmosphere should be great and hopefully it will show off the game in a great light.

Do we have any idea on how the fixtures are to be decided yet?

Doubt I'll be going to both days next year with it being in Manchester - hardly a place where you can have a weekend away now is it?

With the amount of times this subject crops up, and the things I read about it, I have come to the conclusion that the RFL could give out 100,000 business class tickets to all Rugby league season ticket holders to fly to Australia, for the millennium magic to take place down under. They could then give 20 complimentary pints of beer to every supporter. They could also give 5 nights accommodation for 5 dollars at the Hilton per night. How good does it sound?

I could wager that someone out there would whinge.

The RFL can't do anything right, and I don't think they're as inept as some people on here make out.

I think it's a good idea, and they can assess if the concept of the Millennium Magic is still supporters by the fans after the event.

One game for me then off.