Can anyone confirm that these are definitely on the same day? According to SL & FA sites they are but I would be amazed if this is still the case. I know that the two have their own core fans but surely if either of the Manchester teams get there this will affect the number of 'neutrals' from the area who come for a day out.

I realise that the game's 'key areas' football teams are unlikely to make the final (although both Bradford and Wigan got to Wembley last year!) this still seems like a hell of an oversight.

Once again the Sunday is also the same day as the Great Manchester Run - with 40,000 runners/families by and large taken out of the equation for potential neutral speccies too.

Though I'm fairly sure one of the Manchester team won't be in the final.

Rather than seeing this as a negative, the RFL should get in touch with the organisers and offer everyone taking part the discount price.

How many million live in the North West?

Doubt it'll have much, if any, impact on crowds.
Could mean less media coverage but did it get any, other than on Sky, anyway? And Sky will still push it as they don't have the FA Cup.

clueless

Neutrals don't go to Magic. However it would affect the Saints / Widnes / Wire following if their game clashed with a scouse team in the final.

Rubbish.

Remind me again why some of the SL clubs have no faith in the RFL running the sport?

If not this weekend, then when would they have the Magic weekend? Personally i think its the best weekend for it.

A classic case of people criticising for absolutely no reason. There is minimal crossover in direct support and, with only a couple of, albeit large, football games on rather than dozens, the games will arguably get more coverage.

Do we know why it was moved away from the bank holiday weekend last year (and continued to this)?

No, but as MJM aludes to the benefits of this weekend is there is only one major football game on, not dozens.
Perhaps the RFL had a rare moment of clarity and picked this weekend for precisely this reason!

Exactly my thoughts.

In fact, I reckon the FA will move their game as soon as they realise for fear of the 35,000 at that days Magic weekend adversely influencing the blanket wall to wall coverage that their game will get compared to the half page report from the etihad

1d on that weekend