Fantastic concept for mine. There really has been some cracking games, despite my team being robbed

. But in all seriousness, we've had 3 and a half extremely close games so far and only one dead rubber - defences haven't been the greatest but it's been open, high scoring, controversial Rugby League and .

The only thing I'm a little disappointed by is the attendance, but the longer this concept keeps going hopefully the more people get behind it. This was my first magic weekend and I'm encourage any of you who haven't been to go.

We have been to 5 of the 6 and love it, although it does help that Rovers have won every game I've seen.



The rfl need to stop moving it about to let it grow. Love the Etihad though, superb venue.

I had a great day yesterday and those that go seem to enjoy themselves in the main.

It's only the sad sacks who sit at home who seem to be the ones that moan about it.

the only problem from the looks of it for me is they need to get the balance of games right. all of a sudden the crowed has trebiled in size. i know its based on derbys this weekend but i cant help feel if warrington played catalan it would of made the weekend alot better aswell.

The derby games are big games irrespective of the Magic Weekend so if you look at the cumulative attendance of all the derby games played at the respective grounds it would be huge.

Magic needs to stay at Etihad and grow over the coming years, it's a great concept, but leave the derby games for the home grounds.

Only because they have to listen to the Sky commentary team!

What was the attendance for saturday and how it compares to other magic w-ends.

63,176....well that has definately worked and lets keep it there now.

30,763 for Saturday and 32,953 today, a highest total for a Magic Weekend.

I do feel it could grow as an event in Manchester if they stick with it. Now that people have been word of mouth will get around, plus they've never put together any deals on travel and hotels for the event, which would help boost attendance.

I missed having a weekend away, however on the other hand I like that it's so near.

Really enjoyed it yesterday. The Etihad is a perfect venue, though it's fair to say the weather helped! Just hope next year that it doesn't clash with Championship fixtures and then I can go to both days.

beer should be banned from the stands. numerous incidents today including a drunken women from wigan who insisted on throwing beer over people

Why punish the responsible masses because of a drunken minority? There did seem to be one or two incidents at the Hull game that were no doubt drink related, but being able to sit there with a pint yesterday certainly added to the enjoyment of the day from a personal point of view.

A thoroughly enjoyable day out today. The only real disappointment for me was that the Wigan/Saints game wasn't the tight competitive affair I'd hoped for.
Well done particularly to Salfored who really raised their performance for the day.

Liked the stadium as well and hope the RFL stick with it.

I still think a lot of fans only stayed for their teams games, unless they just gathered together for their game and then spread out after that.

I think that's inevitable as some people just prefer to only watch their own side, and particularly if your team lose then you might not fancy sticking around. I think that's the nature of the beast though and is something that you would never be able to change, even when you think to the double headers for the Championship Grand Finals etc where exactly the same issue exists. I did like the idea of each game having an 'end' for each set of fans which certainly helped the atmosphere.

keep it where it is now, maybe alter the format slightly and keep it in May. Its not an expensive weekend in comparison to the previous 5 and could be used as a vehicle to expand the game into Manchester (see article in programme).

Top quality weekend, just a shame Saints didnt play like they did at Headingley on Monday

That sums up RL in a sentence, there is Swinton, Salford and any number of teams within a short drive, if Manchester hasn't got it now then they never will.

I think you sum RL up in a sentence, glass half empty outlook, stick to what we've got approach to the sport.

Manchester as a population hasnt taken notice of RL to any great degree previously. There are now amateur teams being established across the city improving access to the sport, Salford have just moved into a new purpose built stadium 6 months ago, footballers from both Manchester teams regularly follow and talk about RL and the RFL has just moved into MediaCity. There are loads of new reasons to showcase Rugby League to the Manchester public, so why not try again?

Been an armchair non-attendee until today (mate had spare ticket going cheap). *Still* not 100% sure of the concept, but I'll be honest and say I did enjoy it. Definitely wouldn't traipse to Cardiff or Edinburgh though, can't break the bank for a regular league game.

30 odd thousand looks better in a stadium which holds 47000, rather than a stadium which holds 70000 - 80000, as is the case in scotland and wales

hull fc had a deal for supporters with travel, ticket and hotel accomodation for the weekend

Just got in from manchester. Last train back to London!

Great weekend and I like the ground. Disappointed that so many fans only watch their team play, have fantastic weather so why not at least see a couple of games?

Wigan were brilliant, great atmosphere and I never saw one bit of trouble.

Now as for the attendance, I dont think 63k that high. It is in the heartlands and we still couldn't get 70k. RL Fans need to do better!!

Oh and another moan here. Why do we never get any decent merchandise stalls at big RL events? Outside the Etihad it was Eddie Stobart crap all over the place. People were queuing up for pics with the drivers!

WTF!!

Had a great day yesterday but disappointed with the attendence figures. Is it really that much better than when the even was in cardiff?

I was hoping for an 75 - 80k average total considering how close it is to the heartlands clubs.

co-sign regarding the lack of merchandise stalls. There are 30k+ rugby league fans walking around yet nowhere you can purchase RL merchandise. Absurd!!!

There were probably never that many more than 20-25,000 in the stadium at any one time. I think the idea of moving the event around is fine, but not in the 70,000+ stadia. Ideally its better suited to a 40,000 capacity stadium but it also needs to have some facilities around the ground to cater for those fans that don't want to spend all day in the ground.

Like it or not the majority of fans will only watch their own team and perhaps one other game, or parts of a couple of games.

Played at the right venues (Catalan instead of London for example), that round of fixtures should be able to top 100k attendance. Surely the point of the Magic Weekend was to attract new supporters, not just provide a venue for half the people who would have gone to the games anyway to meet up?
If Saracens with a 7k ish average crowd can get 60k+ to Wembley, surely we could fill this ground for just Wigan Saints? Add 30k+ for Leeds Bradford at Elland Road, 20k for Cas / Wakey at Huddersfield and that's the start of a REAL Magic Weekend for the game.
I'd like to see the Magic back to Cardiff, perhaps with an International 9s tournament (featuring individual Super League teams, Championship rep teams, rep teams from Aus and NZ, plus new nations getting a taste of the big time) culminating in the World Challenge.