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.

I dare you to try and get the COMS for one game at this time of year nevermind 7.

Millenium stadium is the place to have it, the first round games would usually be played in horrible conditions (sometimes snow) and the quality of games are shocking. We have seen some great skill on show this weekend and some close games because the conditions are perfect.

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.

You're right it's a crazy idea. We had enough injuries yesterday, no need to beg for more.

I went down yesterday and stayed for the four games. The atmosphere for the Quins/Cats game was atrocious - if anyone switched on their tv and saw the crowd for that game they'd have a right old laugh at our sport. It filled up a little towards the end of the day, but the attendance was pathetic all things considered.

Clearly it was a good idea, but it simply doesn't work. Time for a rethink.

Festival of RL a good idea - but should it really be for 'extra' superleague points.

February timing is awful - just luck that it wasn't snowy. Freezing on the terrace in the snow is dedication for one game at a time, less likely for a whole weekend, fans will watch their team only.

How about making the festival weekend the 4th or 5th round of Challenge cup - draw 7 or 8 games first to play the festival and then the rest go by normal home or away draw. That way the other clubs have a chance - anything can happen in cup rugby and the league can stay play each club twice, home and away.

Closed roof, slippy pitch (especially yesterday) and lots of injuries. Hmm must be a correlation there!

Freezing on the terrace.... it was indoors!

I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it as an occasion.

Now it's coming to an end for this year I think it is important that the rfl now recognise that in the current economic climate that they do something to encourage this festival to be held possibly around the grounds so that cash raised is going into clubs and local econmies were the club is based.

There is a lot of other factors e.g. Accommodation in the local area.

But it will raise the profile of the game say in Wrexham should all the teams play there on one bank holiday weekend.

The concept is good but it needs fine tuning now before it loses considerable amount of face

the games have to mean something.

rejigging the playoffs and then playing the entire first round in one venue would work, but i don't think the top teams would go for it (loss of home advantage).

playing the quarters of the challenge cup over one day could be good.

I hope they dont stop it because I haven't had the money to go yet but as I finish Uni this year hopefully I will have a job and the chance to go next year. The start of season thing could have been bad but the weather was apparently quite good and the roof probably meant it didnt matter much anyway. The reason the standard of rugby (someone mentioned this earlier in the thread i forget who) wasnt as high and there was so many injuries is probably because it was first match back the May ones always seem better because of the simple fact that the season is in full swing by then.

I agree that the change of stadium to somewhere like Manchester would be a good idea but everyone around there would already be into Rugby because its so near most of the teams.

I DO complain about the attendance but not because I dislike the idea but because I cant afford to go and there will be so many fans that CAN afford to go and instead choose to sit at home and moan about the fact that the stadium is half empty.

Having it at any soccer stadium is a total non starter. No soccer club is going to allow 7 games of RL to be played on their surface no matter what time of the year it is.

So, we are stuck with having it at 'rugby' venues that can accomodate. Which basically means Millenium, Murrayfield and Twickenham.

I went yesterday but dont agree with the concept of the weekend at all.

Imagine if Man U were told they had to play Chelsea 3 times but Arsenal only got Latics ?

Its a farce and makes a mockery of the league.

If they want extra revenue then promote another club and get an extra round.

Doubt I will go next year.

What's the point of the RFL putting on a first class event in first class facilities at a fantastic city venue with 14 SL teams if some of the so called RL fans can't be d to turn up? If you don't like it then go and watch girls hockey or something. The majority of fans who were there yesterday felt a great buzz about the city and saw some great RL. Yes it would be great if there were more speccies there but the solution to that is to get your s off your chairs and get there!

Im just glad we came out if it with no serious injuries, that pitch was ridiculous on saturday.

I've never been and never will its a waste of time.