You can get cheaper than that in London. I stayed in the comfort inn Victoria for £99 for the room not long ago. Canary Wharf can also be cheaper at the weekends as the hotels there are used more for business in the week.

What we need to look for is a stadium with the surroundings to accommodate all the gumph that goes with the magic weekend. The Olympic stadium would be ideal for that however as a few have stated it's a long trek for most. Handy for me though

Pride Park (Derby) could be a decent shout if we want to take it somewhere new. I think Cardiff should be seriously looked at too.

Emirates stadium would be ideal, large area outside of the ground too.

Transport links equal to Manchester, Angel just up the road for drinks away from the stadium.
Holloway Road, Caledonia Road and Highbury&Islington tube within 5 minute walk of the ground.

Only if the Ethiad is out of action though.

They want Anfield if the etihad is out of commission

Newcastle for me great city and close to the bars and train station.

would like to see the Olympic Stadium given a go when the new retractable seats are in though.

I think the RFL will try and tout the event to the highest bidder tho, theres surely got to be a council somewhere that wants the boost of 36k fans visiting their city and like Cardiff will pay a fee for it.

Biggest problem with older football stadium and indeed rugby stadiums is that they are built with house all around them as the land has since been sold for development.

Would have to be in a fairly new stadium or a national stadium so that there is plenty of space around for fans.

Thought the whole point was to "expand the game" to new audiences, but now its just a cash cow for the RFL, and Manchester isnt really out of the heartlands is it.

Agree with most thought that wither St James park (but abit enclosed) or the Olympic Stadium would be the most preferable options, they have to start getting some money in from somewhere for it.

Emirates you're on top of the ground, Olympic stadium too far from pitchside.

Is there a reason that it has to move? Or is the contract just up?

/\ The Etihad is been expanded so work has to be carried out during football off season

I am sure we will be signing a long term contract to keep it there from 2016!

I'd say St James Park / Anfield. Keep it North!

I think a lot of the crowd improvements that the Magic Weekend has seen have been down to it being hosted in the heartlands. It's one train trip. I only went over for Sunday and travelling from Dewsbury I saw several excessively full trains going to Manchester full of RL fans.

The costs for the travelling fan are less if the weekend is held in the heartlands and that's what will encourage fans to attend

What about Sheffield? Nice friendly city. Two grounds. 30 miles from Leeds and Manchester. Accessible direct by train from North Cheshire (ie South Lancs!). On M1 for West Yorks and Southern folk. M18 access to Doncaster and Hull. Not only that as Miss Dally is at University there it would give me a good excuse.

It needs to be a top, modern arena, it's a big part of the appeal to fans and players. That rules out Leeds/Sheffield/Villa for me. It'll be Cardiff I bet, Emirates would be great but doubt they'd be up for it.

Would Olympic stadium be a possibility or is that years away?

sheffield would be a good shout as both major venues in the city could host it

bramall lane ( spit) is nearer the city centre and has a large area outside the main stand for a fan village but
hillsborough is next to a big park where a fanzone could be set up, and 5 minutes walk is hillsborough town centre with plenty of pubs/eating spots

Only 12 teams next year inc Cataland Macron could be big enough !

I have been the last two years to Manchester, but I wouldn't go if it was in Cardiff