Late Sunday 20th Nov at Midnight.

Loved the Cardiff trip last year

Dont think a weekend in Manchester would be quite the same though..

I'm glad it's not in Cardiff or Edinburgh. Those stadia were too big and the whole thing looked shoddy on TV. Granted the years I went I had an excellent time. I called for it to be moved to COMS last year and I am glad they have, it's a much more appropriate stadium in terms of size and pretty much a maximum 2 hours travel for most fan. The RFL now needs to think about how to keep people in the stadium and watch all the games rather than just watching their own team then leaving.

Tbh though I think a 3 game international Origin series against the Exiles would be a better idea, as a concept I quite like the Magic weekend but there doesnt seem a fair way to add an extra fixture the regular home/away schedule. One thing that hasnt been tried is basing it on last years league table, ie 1v2, 3v4 etc.

I personally think it's a good move from the RFL. No matter what they do people are going to moan. Imo this is the last chance and if it doesn't draw in a decent crowd this time then they should just give up on the whole idea. People who are lucky enough to be able to afford weekends away in Cardiff and Edinburgh may be dissapointed but those places have had their chance and as much fun as it has been for the people who went its time to move on. Realistically if we want to get more people in the stadium then putting it somewhere that is a lot more accessible is the only way. The people who still want to just go for 2 days and get smashed can still do so in Manchester... and on top of that the people who just want to go for a day can hopefully afford tickets and travel.

I don't agree with the whole extra game thing and the derbies... it should be randomly drawn but that is another issue.

I hope the Rugby League public can get behind it for once and show how well supported our game really is, rather than sitting at home moaning and spitting they're dummies out because they don't like the idea.

some form of origin series between england and the exiles would be a great idea aswell imo and can only benefit the england team.

I would have liked it to be at St. James Park in Newcastle. Stadium is right in the town centre, great night out up there, plus they have a rugger team up there so there is obviously some form of market for rugby (even if it is a different code). How many chances do our geordie friends get to see rugby league live?

That being said, the Etihad stadium would be a good second choice purely for selfish reasons of a nice short travel and aesthetically pleasing stadium.

Short travel means people will simply watch their team and leave. It needs to be further away otherwise we're going to see the lowest attendance for MM yet.

How would the RL allocate tickets for this,when it as been at Cardiff or Edinburgh (both app 75000 capacity stadiums) it as never been a problem if you wanted to watch all the matches on any given day, you just bought the one ticket.
But the Etihiad only holds 42000,so just as an example what if Wigan played Saints in the first match and then HKR played Hull in the second match, would they have to clear the stadium after each match or as at present issue a ticket for all day. If this isn't thought out properly you could have a situation where half the crowd stay in the stadiun after the first match thereby creating the problem of fans not being able to get in for the next match.
I know this may seem unlikley,but on a June bank holiday weekend with the sun shining the number of people (not only RL fans)wanting to attend may supprise the Authorities.

This is what I was alluding to in my post above about the RFL have to try and keep fans in the ground for all the games, not just show up for their own team's game then leave immediately afterwards. I don't think it's a viable option to only sell tickets for individual games as you are going to have the problem you have mentioned there. People trying to leave the stadium whilst others are entering, I'm sure there would be health and safety issues as well, and you'd also get some crafty buggers who only pay for one game and then try in stay in to watch the next one.

I think tickets will have to be sold in the same way as for Edinburgh/Cardiff, i.e. you either purchase a 1 or 2 day ticket, get a wristband and can enter and leave as you please. As you say though, the danger with it being in Manchester is games like Quins v Cats for example would be playing in front of an empty stadium!

Having checked laterooms.com today a large amount of hotels are already sold out in Manchester , I guess clubs and RFL officials could have Pre booked or could just be a busy time in the city with the long BH weekend

It's actually over 47,000. The tickets will be done the same as they were for the last Magic Weekend.

They only opened the bottom two tiers of the Millenium stadium.

The Millenium stadium holds 75,000, they took away the top tier which holds 33,000. That left 42,000 as the capacity for the event.

It won't be a problem.

Just not interested in the concept full stop.

Bring back playing St.Helens twice a season in the weekly rounds because the derby is getting tired.

the stadium being too full or having to high a demand for tickets is a welcomed problem imo....


no matter how they do it there are going to be people who only want to see their team play... but selling individual match tickets would defeat the whole point of the weekend.

Even if every seat is sold which would be a great achievement its going to be unlikely that the stadium will actually appear full at any point. It is just a regular superleague fixture with not much to play for so people aren't going to be interested who wins.

The RFL have the idea that the weekend is what the fans want. They should send out a questionnaire to every season ticket holder for every club and make it avaiable on line to all other supporters. That way they would have a much better idea of what fans want and I reckon some good ideas on development.
We really struggle to attract support from anywhere other than lancashire and Yorkshire. Expansion to Wales was a real flop so why not encourage a Cumbrian side and take magic up that way? There is already a decent fan base.

There isnt a decent stadium in Cumbria. Or a city big enough to take an influx of 50 thousand+ rugby league fans.