So what would you call it then, its over 110 years we are talking about here and the furthest the game had gone with any success until the 80's was Castleford, that is staggering. It is halfd plans that are changed as soon as a few fans whinge and moan that holds this game back not the media.

Coldplay are playing at the stadium the following weekend which means that the pitch will definitely be relayed in any case. The Take That concerts last summer didnt do the pitch any lasting harm so MM + Coldplay will not be a problem.

Will the new tram service to/from the City centre be running by then? Might help the social side. The pubs around the ground aren't that great are they? But City Square is well suited for this type of event.

If MM is to be a success it needs to beheld in the same place for a long period of time, it needs to become a tradition. Right now it is something which people cant, and dont plan for. We dont know when, where or even if it will be held from one year to the next.

I think Cardiff was perfect as a location, and the RFL should have gone to the SMC and Visitwales and organised MM for the same weekend every year for the next ten years. Then announced that for the next ten years it will be held in this place, on these days.

But we arent, we have given up on the 'weekend away' aspect of it and I think we will see less of the 'carnival of RL' which we had in Scotland and wales just due to the geography of it, which is fine, if a little unambitious for mine (we lose the new fans aspect of it, this is simply going to be the same fans, paying less, for the same games). But what happens next year? the year after? the year after that? The RFL need the event to be stable if fans are going to really bother with it.

Spot on.

It's scheduled to open in "Summer 2012", however the Chorlton Line that was scheduled to open in spring this year didn't open until July.

Wasnt it suggested that the good hoteliers of Cardiff started ripping off RL fans in the second year, when they thought they were going to get a monopoly on the event?

I think its fine to move it around, see what works, keep the locals on their toes.

It will be a different crowd at Manchester. Probably a lot fewer going for the full two days, but more of those that couldnt afford the Cardiff / Edinburgh weekends. And it seems to me that those fans should also be catered for, at least every couple of years.

You mean like charging full rack rate? Hardly a rip off, they do that for every major event.
Book early get a good deal, leave it till late and you get what is left, simples.

The problem with moving it around and seeing what works is that once we find something that works, we immediately lose it. Keeping it in one place allows us to build, to put down roots and get people planning for it.

It works up to a point. Its great for singles or couples looking for a boozy weekend. But its not great for families, teenagers, or those who cannot afford a full weekend away. Alternating the venues allows different groups of fans to take part.

Anfield is a fair shout for Wigan/Saints/Wigan/Warrington. I kept with CoMS because it is hosting this year's.
It would make sense to have Salford play in Manchester, yes. But I've tried to make it two games per ground, and if you had Salford/Huddersfield there, then where would you have Warrington/Widnes?


I was thinking of something similar for the other Magic Weekends. There's Hearts' ground right near Murrayfield. Or you could put up a couple of temporary stands on the fields outside the ground to make two pitches and it could be like our Wimbledon. "Court 1" "Court 2" "Centre Court" kind of thing.

Its better for families, teenagers or those who cannot afford a full weekend away because they know, when and where it is every year. So they can save towards it, even if it means they go every other year. Thats better than waiting 6/7 months before deciding which random city we are holding it in this year just to see if it was in a city near enough for them to go this year, which just due to chance is going to be a pretty rare occasion.

Its likely to cost 3 times more to rent out 3 stadiums than it would to rent out 1 stadium. You are tripling the biggest cost and dividing your market by a third.

It wouldnt help families. Their issue really is that children do not have the appetite or patience to watch several games of rugby not involving their team. They might travel 40-50 miles to watch their team plus one other match, but much less likely to travel 200+ miles.

It wouldnt help young teenagers eg 13-15 year olds. The ones that you see at every match, stood watching with their mates. They're not going to be able to stay overnight, they're not going to be able to join in the social side in the pubs.

Knowing where the event is to be held doesnt really help those on limited budgets if its going to be held 200+ miles away. They will still struggle to afford the travel costs.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not saying that it shouldnt be held at places like Cardiff or Edinburgh. But it should be accepted that those venues only appeal to a particular segment of the RL fan base. Having the occassional event nearer to home is fairer to those who otherwise wouldnt be able to go.

The Manchester event will attract a different crowd to the Cardiff/Edinburgh events. Fewer fans will go for both days. But that will be offset by a lot more fans going for one or two matches. It will be different, not necessarly better or worse, just different. And its fair enough for it to be like that every few years.