Yet you advocate taking it back to Manchester??
FWIW, and I've worked/travelled/lived in many points of the UK, Newcastle is actually one of the few league-savvy parts outside the heartland. It also has its own club. The announcement of the MW returning made local news and the front pages of the local rags. I agree with your comments about it skewing the fixtures and the need for it; where I won't agree is that if we are to run it, Newcastle's a bad place to take it.

I was being sarcastic. If it's just a boozing weekend Manchester is as good as anywhere.
Nobody can explain the logic of a 27th match it is totally illogical.

The best way to decide the fixtures in my view is to decide it the week before based on league positions. I would make it 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th and so on. That way every team has a real incentive. The higher placed team would want to extend the gap and the lower placed team would want to close the gap or move above their opponents. The fans would be sure to see competitive games both days.