Being a diehard Evertonian I wasn't exactly doing cartwheels when I found out magic was taking place across the park this year but as long as Saints are there I'm there no matter what stadium we're playing in.

I think magic could be moved to the Midlands next year and Aston Villa's ground would be a good shout. But it's a bit out the way and to some it seems what pubs are in the vicinity of the stadium is more important than the rugby or the stadium itself.

Parroting a suggestion from somewhere else (Facebook or Reddit, can't remember)

Magic Weekend + Summer Bash in Nottingham. 1 at each ground.

I'm surprised the RFU don't just front up the money and send it to Baku.

Before they move the venue again, SL need to review what the event is for.

Are they trying to attract new fans? Are they giving existing fans a weekend out? At the moment its a muddle and we're not doing a great job at getting either of those markets in the ground.

They also havent worked out what the best fixture format is. Derby's generate the biggest crowds but you run the risk of oversaturating those games by having them several times a year.

Picking 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th seems the fairest but you always get some teams slipping down the ranking nearer the event, such as Wigan are Chamoions on paper but only 8th right now. These games also dont seem to bring in the crowds, Leeds - London for example is a relegatioj 4 pointer and closely matched, but it hasnt got the Leeds fans queuing up to buy tickets.

As always the Marketing starts too late and has too little budget, to crack a City like Liverpool would take months of effort a few social media posts to existing Rugby League fans isnt anywhere near enough.

It needs to be used as part of a consistent strategy to expand the game.

I was always disappointed by the lack of integration between the Magic Weekend and the Newcastle club. It’s a perfect opportunity to get new people interested in the sport whilst also pointing them toward regular RL on their doorstep.

So wherever it goes it needs to be for 5 years minimum and tie in with a local club that the RFL actively helps promote.

A scattergun, roving, 1 year here, 1 year there approach will do very little in my opinion.

Was discussing this yesterday with a lad in work. Nottingham was his suggestion and a bl00dy good one at that. Good transport links, less than a couple of hours for pretty much any RL fan (bar Catalans) and cracking nightlife. The City Ground holds just over 30k so should be sufficient to cover both days as we rarely get much over 30k either day IIRC (happy to be put straight on that tho!).

Pretty much all of the above. It all seems muddled and unclear.

I went to the RU Euro cup final a couple of weeks back at Newcastle and the contrast between that and Magic Weekend couldn't have been much greater - there was a decent looking fan park down on the riverside and a big firework show late Sat night. In contrast what have we got lined up for this weekend?

If its anything like other SLE events, that tossbag from Rugby AM yelling at people from the back of a trailor.

comes down to money

whoever pays the most gets magic weekend

must have been liverpool council this time

england played their recently and marwan koukash has ideas of a liverpool club forming so some root laid maybe!

Sadly I fear that is true, but doesn't fill you with any confidence that SL actually have a plan...should be a great weekend out and a real advert for our game, but it feels stale and completely lacking in ideas.

I can't stand Liverpool FC but a Wakefield fan mocking another team for lack of trophies?

Priceless.

What is the purpose of Magic weekend? Surely until that's understood we cant decide (you would think).

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... ague-games hopefully these guys will get a warm welcome.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... ague-games hopefully these guys will get a warm welcome.

30k there today, 9k down on Saturday last year. Didnt look any better or worse on TV as Anfield has more upper tiers than St James' park...but 9k is a massive drop and had Catalan, Hull and either Wigan or Wire been at home today for a normal fixture they'd have got about 30k so you have to wonder what the point is

30k for a Saturday seemed low too me. Anfield is closer for the m62 'heartlands' clubs yet the crowd hasn't gone up.

I think the real question should be has magic weekend had its time now? Maybe the fans are now just tired of it and after so many just aren't interested in this concept anymore. Personally I think we need change. I would keep the weekend but go with a 9's tournament. Try something different and new as the current format has become tired and old.