What is the point of Magic? 14 teams 1 stadium 2 days no fans. Rar rar game there the other week filled the stadium and reports are suggesting that there's less than 35000 fans over 2 days. If Wigan and saints had played at say anfield or eastlands, the one game would had drawn a bigger crowd than whole of magic weekend

Are you speaking from first hand experience or just another negative supporter sniping from the side-lines?

If you mean did I go yesterday, yes I did. Thought it was like being in an empty tin can. Im not sniping, just think its been an rfl flop. simply asking what's the point? Derbies at Wigan and Knowlsey Road are a far better experience. If we're trying to expand the game, I'm sure that anyone who's never been to a game wouldn't watch it and think 'gosh I wish I was sat in one if those 50000 empty seats'.

They are giving 30,891 as the official crowd. If there was any more than 20 thou I'll show me backside at top of King Street. And you are dead right about neutrals, the standard of play (Wigans game not as bad as the others) and reffing was fairly abysmal.

I went yesterday. Wigan & Wire fans travelled well and made some noise (Saints took far less which was poor), however there was probably only 20-25k at anytime throughout the day, which is about a quarter full.
I believe the attendances are even worse today (as informed by my mate who's still there). At £12.50 a ticket there's not much more the RFL can do to make it a success. Some things they introduce work (Grand Final at Old Trafford increased attendances from 45k to 70k within a few years). The Magic Tournament obviously hasn't. I can't see how any money was made yesterday??

Scrap it.

Try the olympic stadium (London) just after the games have finished next year.

I didn't go to the magic weekend.

BUT the RFL seem set to do the magic weekend and this version of it based in Wales, kicking off the season and derby matches is a far, far, far better idea than the Murrayfield version.

It’s not a bad idea to really kick off the season with a big fuss and some razzmatazz.

There are big problems with crowd numbers obviously but the on the field product especially the games between the big sides have been as good as ever.

We maybe need to find a venue which more people are prepared to travel to.

City of Manchester stadium, a location in the midlands?



I thought that but i don't think people will travel that far.

Maybe we should just do the one day and have just the big derby matches Wigan vs Saints, FC vs KR, Wire vs Hudds and Leeds Bradford.

Harsh on the other teams but they aren't the ones with massive support

What about this for a really crazy idea

4 games on saturday
3 games on sunday as it is already

In december they pull out 8 teams out of a draw and they play on the Saturday the rest play the Sunday.
(this is just to know what day to turn up for the fans)

Every one gets in the stadium and 10 minutes before kick off those 8 names pulled out go in to another draw and they pull two out of the hat.

Announcer "And our first team to play is (name drawn) Hull KR"
players come out start to warm up

Annoucer "And they will be playing Leeds Rhinos"

This is a silly idea on a few levels, only those that quote me will read this section

Just got back, and irrespective of the result, won't be going again.

Lol just seen the added bit.

The aggregate number for Saturday's games was 30,189. That's the average number. Virtually all the Wire fans went home after their match. I know, I was there. I watched all four matches. The first one was packed, the second empty, the third filled up and the fourth was very busy too but without the ton of Wire fans who had made the place really buzz for the first match. Wire fans may have taken loads down, but those loads did not stay for the day. Therein the hub of the problem. For all we know, the RFL could have sold 65,000 tickets for the weekend but we would never get 65,000 people in the stadium in one go because there are 7 matches and not everyone will do as I did and watch them all. But that does not mean it is a failure of an event or even that the RU do a better job. It just means ours is a festival event and theirs is a match.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day and for me the result of our match was a bonus because I didn't expect a win from Saints due to them being distinctly underdone and without Leon Pryce, who is a significant influence on Saints.

How can anyone complain about this event.... 14 teams, 1 stadium, 2 days.... rugby be on show after the off-season... cheap tickets.... great city.... what more do you want?

I love the magic weekend, best concept the RFL have come up with. What else can they do? The downfall is in the pathetic fans of Rugby League who will sit at home and complain about the empty stadium.

The thing is, it creates interest and media interest. The negative is it's in 1/4 empty stadium on the first week of the season when historically most clubs record better than average crowds.

PLaying it at say City of Manchester would work, the games would likely sell out. Getting the stadium for a full weekend at this time of year is impossible though.

Hope much interest would Yeds idea create can't imagaine the players would like it and the local pubs.

Play it at Man Citys ground (Open air bars outside stadium)
Brand it as Manchester Magic
Have it in April/May on a Bank Holiday weekend
Have a trophy/prize for best performance and best try and award it at end of the last game.
If the numbers are looking low say by 10,000 capacity give 5,000 tickets away to local school kids or sell them £1 a piece to the schools in the area.
Have bands/pop acts in and around the stadium aswell as beer tents/bars and comedy tents and make it something people want to go to like a festival.