Not that I agreed with this ridiculous extra fixture anyway, but given it was usually justified as 'taking RL to a new audience' (even though this was largely untrue), what precisely is the point of it now?

I don't agree with it either (the extra game, not the venue) but as it's in Manchester it will be daft not to go for the Wire game.

As ours will be the only game I'm going for though I won't be going if tickets are more than £20.

Its usually good value for money,think i paid £15.00 for my 2 day ticket last year for seven games of Rugby not bad value at all,plus next year should be a little easier on peoples pockets with them not having to shell out on Hotels,Meals out and expensive travel to the venue.

Who gets the money from this fixture?

I think it is a good idea, why do people think you have to travel to different parts of the UK to spread the game? A spectacle of 7 games over a weekend no matter where it is will attract anyone who is interested in the game. If someone isnt interested then dumping 7 games on their doorstep is not going to suddenly make them interested, where as someone who has a inkling may well be tempted by a Magic Weekend and associated hype. Also not everyone who is already an avid fan and interested will be travelling from the M62 corridor I live in Norfolk and it is a lot easier to get to Manchester (3 1/2 - 4 hours) than Cardiff (8 hours +) or Scotland (11 hours +). So work permitting I will be going where as otherwise I would not and it is better to present a full stadium as the face of the game than a half empty one, the amount of times have yawnion fans telling me we cant even fill a stadium is beginning to wear thin.

Prehaps the RFL are trying to promote the game in Manchester, seen as Salford can't...

Taking the weekend to Manchester doesnt keep in the context of the original idea, but as we have just seen at Wembley 42K in London - I think we will be able to sell the Etihad out... But im not sure everyone will stay for the games on thier day this meaning it wont look sold out - as travel to Manchester is so easy I wonder whether or not fans will just watch thier games and then decide to go home... However as mentioned earlier well done the RFL - for providing a cheaper option.

Idea being to make money

Manchester fits that bill.

Last Saturday the stadium also announced they had 7 World Cup games. Now either they jumped to gun on the RFL announcement or in typical football fashion they dont know their WC from their MM. Damn sight more practical than Cardiff or Murrayfield though!

Playing in east Manchester IS spreading the word. You could ask a number of locals who Sam Tomkins is and I reckon most wouldn't have a clue.

Think Salford might be the winner from this, cashing in on those who get hooked and travel to Barton to see what a league match is like.