Tonight s game between Huddersfield and Catalans seemed to have a max of 1,000 fans! Tomorrow the Leeds v Leigh game is being played in Featherstone! and the Semi finals are being being played at Bolton F.C. ground on a Sunday afternoon in August! on the same day The R.F.L have seem to have given up on the competition

I think the fans are giving up on the final as well . Thousands of neutral supporters having a weekend away seems to be a thing of the past as well . The whole event is so flat now so unless you support one of the teams playing it is becoming a less and less attractive day out. The RFL seem to make little or no effort to revamp the whole experience and attract RL fans and others. We will be in London as always that weekend an for the first time in many years will seriously consider doing something else there if Wigan are not playing and that saddens me .

Regards EW

The challenge cup has definitely lost its mojo. For me it used to be the pinnacle of the season. when I first started to watch Wigan in 1979 the cup was THE competition and I couldn’t wait for the 1st round draw to be done so we could begin the arduous battle to get to Wembley.
But since the switch to summer rugby the main focus now is getting to old Trafford and the grand final. I hate the new Wembley as well which I suppose doesn’t help either as it to has lost its appeal and doesn’t get the juices flowing anymore. I think there is room in the rugby league season for the challenge cup but it needs a complete overhaul, whether this means bringing the super league teams in earlier to give the chance of the lower leagues teams the prized giant killing scalp or simply moving the competition to the start of the season I don’t really know but something has to change soon.

Change the magic weekend to the challenge cup quater finals. whether the BBC and Sky could sort who shows the games is an issue, the BBC offers little to promote the CC even though they have less high profile sports events to show.

As pointed out, the semi-finals at the Macron is actually a good idea (especially for me, sitting only 7 miles away ), but I agree the Cup should be moved to the start of the season. Or indeed, to the Magic Weekend, which would have the added benefit of making the league fixtures fairer.

And yes, the new Wembley is a charmless place. The only thing you can say in its favour is, it's still better than the awful 'London Stadium', or whatever they call it this week!

I'd start at the end of January as we do now, same format but fixtures are every two weeks, except for three weeks between semis and the final, which would take place on May bank holiday. Like so:

27/01/18 - 28/01/18 Round 1
10/02/18 - 11/02/18 Round 2
24/02/18 - 25/02/18 Round 3
10/03/18 - 11/03/18 Round 4
24/03/18 - 25/03/18 Round 5
07/04/18 - 08/04/18 Round 6
21/04/18 - 22/04/18 Quarter Finals (maybe an opportunity to group these and make an event out of it in somewhere we are looking to expand?)
05/05/2018 Semi Finals (double header somewhere in the heartlands as they are doing)
26/05/2018 Final

The extra week would allow fans the chance to plan their trip to Wembley. Having the final earlier in the season would give it more focus, as it wouldn't be competing for attention with the Grand Final and Internationals. Likewise, having fixtures every two weeks would keep it at the forefront of fans' minds. Move Magic to August bank holiday weekend as the first round of the super 8s.

Problem with May Bank holiday weekend is Wembley is booked for the football playoff finals

We would need another venue, for May

When will people realise that most of the population are skint?

Prince Harry and his Maud can probably afford to go.

Well,i*d have Cardiff over Wembley anyday.Outside there*s plenty of Pubs and Eateries,really enjoyed it there when they had the final there.

I enjoyed the Magic weekends there and the Rhinos v Hull CC. I prefer Edinburgh myself as there are more places to stay at a decent price, I dont think Edinburgh can be beaten for pubs, bars etc

What a load of rubbish.

People have money but choose to spend it differently than they did 20 years ago. There is so much choice of entertainment these days that a trip to a challenge cup round is not near the top of most peoples priority. Im not ashamed to say that i never go to a game anymore. Id rather spend my money on the latest smartphone etc. The money is there it is just tied up in other choices.

And just to add, im glad i no longer waste money to watch the absolute drivel ive just seen. Ive never watched a more lacklustre Wigan team filled with has beens, average Joes and over-rateds. Warrington where worthy of their win but my God they didnt have to do much to get the win. If they have anything about them, the Wigan club will offer a refund to every Wigan fan that wasted money going to Warrington today.

"Id rather spend my money on the latest smartphone etc." You discount a view as "a load of rubbish" then include that statement. How do you know what disposable income if any other fans have to spare on a game of RL?