I think the Etihad would have been perfect for the opener, and no doubt would have sold out, though I doubt Man City would allow 2 games of RL to be played during the football season.

Cardiff is not difficult to get to !

There's 1 train per hour direct from Manchester on Saturdays and return trains at 8 & 9 pm, and M5 & M4 take you there too from the North, and direct trains from London too.

Of course you can get there, but it's a 4 hour journey one way. That's 8 hrs minimum in the car. By any stretch that is some journey.

The trains to are 4 hours.

It's not what I call an easy journey. You can get to anywhere, but in terms of train or car journey it's not a simple easy journey, depending where you travel from.

I'm fairly certain that Cardiff was picked for the opening games because it's the only ground in the UK that can guarantee that the opening ceremony can take place undisturbed from the risk of inclement October weather. I'm sure the closed roof will add to the occasion .
Imagine the ethiad pitch after an opening ceremony and 2 games of rugby if it was lashing it down .

Wembley has a closing roof. I'm pretty sure Cardiff was chosen for financial reasons.

It's difficult and tiresome to get to.

Even if there were a direct train it's still close to 5 hours each way.

From Leeds the journey is about as good as it gets... just one change at Birmingham New Street.

4hrs, 30mins getting there catching a train at 8am to arrive just before 1pm.

Almost 5 hrs on the way back changing at Manchester Piccadilly and arriving back in Leeds just before midnight.

Then there's the pain of having to put up with all the drunken boors, particularly on the transpennine route from Manchester.

No thanks.

Not over the pitch it doesn't.

The only retractable roofs are at each end - they retract to give the pitch extra light, not to cover the pitch from the elements.

Manchester United are allowing two in 8 weeks - and they are MUCH bigger than City. Did we even ask ?

Lets not forget the ££££££££.

Would Man city have stumped up the cash.

Sure it would look full, but we will get more at Cardiff, even though it looks less full and more £££££'s.

Like I said I understand the reasoning behind Wales, but it does make it tricky to sell out. But Man City would not be anywhere near the same value for money.

Cardiff is the perfect venue for an opener, it's the only venue in which you can plan an event and not have to worry about the weather at all.