Clearly the intention is to try and grow the game in Newcastle. Which would seem a reasonable step given it's a major city on the edge of the heartlands and with a semi pro team.

Should be at Newcastle for the next 5 years in my opinion combined with an international there.

Remind me.

What was the intention of previously staging it in Manchester again?

Why is this event not on a bank holiday weekend?
The Sunday crowd will be low again because it isn't.

Guessing so the Summer Bash can be held in Blackpool the next weekend.

Never seen the logic of having them back to back as spread them a month or more apart and people might go to both, went to both 2 years ago but don't think I would do again just because of the closeness of both events.

To be fair to the RFL they will be restricted by the availability of Football stadiums, Newcastle will probably want to tear the pitch up the day after the Magic Weekend so that its ready for August, so delaying the event another week might not be an option.

I do agree that the Big Bash could be another weekend though, maybe the week before the football starts in August.