3 years in Doncatraz was it?

Doncaster.. - God give me strength, surely not!

Having spent the previous weekend in Doncaster it's certainly quite a lively town. The previous time I was there the police had a sniffer dog in use on Silver Street. I can only presume the RFL expect the northern fans to day trip as there's not much in the way of hotels. Once in the ground you are a bit stuck too, basically the ground is on a business estate a fair stomp from the town centre.

Decent enough ground but as a day/weekend out Blackpool seems a better bet to me.

Might be yr thing bostwick not mine

You said Micky that you did three years in Doncaster. Just assumed it was in Doncaster prison.

Assume away bostwick if that's the sort of folk you generally hang around with.
Quite interested how anyone who was in that sort of place would have any knowledge of what sort of night out it would be though.
Just for benefit of doubt I worked in the area on two occasions.

Not sure why they would take it to donny tho, at least with the vegas of the north there are other things to do, they even have the lady boys for you bostwick

Have been in doncatraz actually, and fyi it's called lyndholm we used to play rugby against them until they got banned.

Blackpool is a dump - but its a dump by the sea with loads of hotels and B&B. Also , having been for 2 years, the sun shines and Blackpool looks fantastic.

I am from Hull one of the few places we can look down on is Doncaster \- a hell hole. So why on earth would we move?

Silly question I know but are the RFL total idiots. This is the quickest way to kill the summer bashand alienate. Blackpool is a decent enough place, ok its a long way for London fans but so is Doncaster. Blackpool has facilities - Doncaster doesnt. Blackpool has night life - Doncaster doesnt. Blackpool is near the town and you can nip in and out of games - Doncaster you cant. OK the journey is also bit longer to Blackpool for northern fans but I am pretty convinced between the two they would probably choose Blackpool and enjoy a good social rugby weekend. No fan is going to drive backwards and forwards two days running especially when their team only plays on one day - if they drive they cant drink and if they stay hotels and B&B will be in very strong demand and could cause a problem with not being enough to go round. It's not a problem to the RFL numpties because no matter what their needs, players needs and SKY needs they will all be well and truely catered for it's just the poor fans who will be neglected during consultations. The fans and players deserve more than the offer of Doncaster.

Exactly!!

The thing is the majority of fans who attend this event only go for the day their team plays and as such the number of those staying over and sampling Blackpool is very very small - granted it might be 100% of Broncos fans attending.

Not sure thats true. Was sat with Fev fans on Saturday, their game was last on Sunday. I think Blackpool for a weekend is reasonably attractive - Doncaster??? If they are going to keep this idea then the seaside sounds and feels right, not sure what Northern alternatives there are? Scarborough?

Scarborough stadium is now sitting in Fev!

Fev is a long way from the seaside! Attractive as it might be.........................

I don't dispute the fact that some folk stay over, maybe 500, and that's a wild guess.

What the RFL need to communicate is the purpose of the Summer Bash. Is it a sop to the Championship and its followers in lieu of the Magic Weekend ? Is it seen as a development tool (as was the Magic originally) ? Does 'Blackpool' desperately want a rugby league festival event like Newcastle seems to ?

If I am being honest, I think the thing is a waste of time, regardless of venue, unless it was seen as a development tool. It skews the fixture list, its hard to sell to even the Championship never mind the outside world, having watched it on TV this year, the early games each day look appallingly attended.

For me, rugby league needs one festival of rugby league. Cancel Championship fixtures on Magic Weekend, but have an additional fixture to engage the Championship, Previous Years Champions (if not promoted) v Championship Select XIII or England v Exiles Championship, something like. Players from all Championship clubs added to the mix.