A follow-up thread to the earlier one on loop fixtures: what are your thoughts on the value of magic weekend now that it has been running for quite a while?

Personally, I hate magic weekend being a part of the regular season, for the exact same reasons as I hate loop fixtures:
- Unfair and unequal for teams who are at both extremes of the table, where final points really matter
- Cheapens games if you play the same team 3-6 times per season
- Needless extension of the season, which could be replaced with more exciting alternatives that might be better for the game


Personally I would replace it with a challenge cup round alternative!! (all teams in a challenge cup round play on same weekend/same venue. Keeps the same vibe and excitment, but doesn't mess with the regular season fixtures.

Thoughts?

I only went to one once so I'm clearly not the key market, but I didn't think it was anywhere near as enjoyable as a night at headingly, other than it happened to be in a city I was in at the time.

Would things be any worse if it was swapped for another show-piece event? Whether that's a consistent annual international fixture, or a consistent annual regional fixture, or a challenge cup magic round alternative.

I went to 2 of the Etihad ones, and had an enjoyable time, but as a Wigan fan I've always found we seem to be scheduled the most difficult opponent every year. We got to play Huddersfield for 1 year, but other than that we've only been drawn with St. Helens, Warrington or Leeds. I'd prefer the idea of a Challenge Cup Quarter Finals weekend, discounted tickets for season ticket holders at all the competing clubs and just pack the place out for something that'll look great on TV, ideally all games on the BBC.

Magic Weekend is a Sky product, simple. It should be abandoned, nobody wants to go to Newcastle, if it remains it needs to move to Nottingham.

Us, and all our friends, love Newcastle. It’s one of the highlights of our year.

West end tinker does not have any friends apart from the odd PM from steph curry, therefore cannot begin to understand your enjoyment of the experience of a magic weekend, he does though have other highlights which he looks forward to, his main one being antagonistic to posters on here.

Huddersfield who have never lost at Magic Weekend, yea that was an easy draw

Ah, you claim to know me and my friends? Magic should be in Cardiff or somewhere else more interesting than Newcastle, Liverpool was a good idea. But keep the sledging coming, you are rubbish at insults.

I like Magic, but it needs to be held in a venue that provides for the fans. We got lucky that it never rained at The Etihad because there would have been nothing for fans.

Cardiff or Newcastle for me.

Fixture wise it's tough. As CM Punk says, Wigan always seem to get shafted with their fixture but other than a league game with top level fixtures I don't think we get the crowds.

CC QFs restrict the target audience to 8 sides (can't see the others going to watch) and some may even be Championship sides (all Championship QF in 2019) or the lesser supported sides.

A 7s or 9s comp like the Auckland 9s MAY bring fans in but not if sides start to rest their stars and play the kids. Midway through the season a side won't want to risk their best players for an exhibition and ruin their chances.

You could have it at the start, but then the only venue it can be at is Cardiff and we can't guarantee the same weekend due to the 6 nations.

3 things wrong here son, first of all I never mentioned friends as it's quite obvious you have only one one acquaintance on here and that's debatable and I don't remember claiming to know you other than once hearing you sticking up for Ms. Curry bragging you were in constant contact with him/her through the PM system , secondly throwing insults about on here won't get you very far with the establishment, and finally to insult you would be such a waste of time as judging from your normal behaviour on here your not bright enough to recognise an insult anyway.

you do understand the ironic fact you insulted me by saying i was too stupid to be insulted?

anyway, MM, scrap it, and not just for one season, the whole thing is garbage, get rid of Leigh, Wakefield and bring back franchising.

Absolutely agree with that and the other poster quoted just throws insults. I'm sure most genuine posters agree, and we may get more genuine posters and better debates if we didn't get insulted all the time by whoever it is......

The disparaging of Newcastle was just the usual bait for angry reactions, you kept your cool nicely.....

I've been to various locations starting I think in Cardiff and that's great just to go to new places, it may be great to go to the same place if you love it.

But the matches are as another poster says even more loop fixtures.....

However it's a business and if the thing profits significantly then is that justification?

If it generates a lot of interest locally so that it benefits Newcastle Thunder and they become a big club outside the M62 that's a big prize...

Been to them all although only for the day as I'm not too fussed about being ripped off with the accommodation, Cardiff the best with all the variety of eateries across from the entrance, best memories were two trips to Edinburgh in a stretch Hummer with snowie, wow what a way to travel, supped the two bottles of complimentary champers before we got out of the car park.

I can totally understand the frustration with the way the fixtures are generated.

However, for us a large part of going to matches is the social aspect. We always have a fantastic weekend in Newcastle.

Although I’m massively in favour of expansion I firmly believe it should be done in small steps.

Places like Newcastle, York and Coventry should be given a good crack. So events like the Magic Weekend help to raise the profile of the sport in those areas.
This includes the fans. Every single place I’ve been to I’ve had a conversation with locals and they never fail to be astounded that rival fans can mingle without there being trouble.