I dont agree with the suggestions we should use the Olympic stadium. For start they are keeping the running track meaning the fans are gonna be too far away from the pitch and theres also the fact that London is an over priced grot hole that (apart from Quins fans) Is too far to travel to when there are other alternatives

there needs to be a concerted decision as to what the 'Magic Weekend' is for before we can decide where it should be. Personally, being in favour of a 16 team franchised SL I'd like to see MW used as a mid season 'day out' to balance out the calendar, with there being an additional 'opening weekend'. This would give you a big four events of Opening Weekend, Magic Weekend, CC Final, Grand Final.

Opening Weekend IMO should be at Old Trafford, mirroring the end of the season, culminating in a rematch of the Grand Final on Sunday evening. This to be a big hyped-up weekend in February to get the media's attention and start the season with a bang.

MW should then be a party basically, a mid-year day out, and as such should IMO be somewhere we're looking to grow the game, with it moving around year to year. A couple of suggestions then would be

Tolouse (French Catalonia)-Stade Municipal
Barcelona (Catalonia)-Esta Olimpic Lluis Companys
Cardiff (South Wales)-Millenium Stadium
London (East London)-Olympic Stadium
Sheffield (South Yorkshire)-Bramall Lane

When will we know the fixtures surley a good idea would be for them to annouce it on saturday at old trafford or do a open draw done by two fans at the game.

For me the following parameters should be met:

Capacity of at least 35,000
As close as possible to be geographically right in the middle of Hull (the most northern clubs) and quins (the most southern)
Good transport links to the host town, city
Good transport around town and to the stadium
Lots of things to do pre and post match
Willing stadium landlord

RFL, over to you ????? LOL

How about australia.. That might generate a decent crowd

I'd have it in London, The media wouls actually bother to turn up and theres chances of getting some publicity

oh and if i ruled the world i'd give free tickets to all local RL clubs to pack Wembley, but i realise this is a bit of a reasnoble idea for the RFL to contemplate

I personally feel it should be held on the m62 corridor or in London.
On the m62 you've got the majority of the fans of the sport, so people would be less put off going for a whole weekend if they don't have to pay extra for accommodation and we'd likely get bigger crowds over both days which would make the event a bigger success.

In London, as Saint Simon said, you'd likely get more media attention. Something that the game needs in bucket loads.

No chance of anything other than the GF being played at old trafford.

Why is everyone still going on about soccer grounds. It will not be held at a soccer ground even in June.

Would love that! However the pitch at Ajax is dire. So we are back to the soccer issue.

who's to say no football club would allow there stadium to be used in the summer? alot of clubs re-turf their pitches during the summer if we could make arrangements with the host club to have the weekend before they do it we could be in business

city of manchester stadium or whatever it is called now and have it mid season.

Lovin chuff, NO FOOTBALL CLUB WILL ENTERTAIN IT!

Even when they are relaying, they want all the time possible to set it ready for start of the season.

City is THE biggest non starter of the lot.
In a nutshell

RFL: Can we use your ground for Magic Weekend
Multi Billionaire Owners: We don't need the money but lets speak to the groundsman see what he thinks
Groundsman: No chance it'll ruin the pitch and take ages to recover.
Multi Billionaire Owners: Hi, is that the RFL, no you're alright we don't need your money.

that being the case we are stuck with

wembley - lets not ruin the uniqueness of going there for the challenge cup final
olympic stadium - the running track will mean fans will be too far from the pitch killing the atmosphere, also south london is a crap hole
murrayfield - too far to travel
cardiff - prob the best of a far from ideal bunch

I agree but so is East London where the actually stadium is

haha my bad

my point is still valid though

I like the Olympic Stadium idea, but it's just the track that would ruin it I think. The view wouldn't be too good. Are there any other London stadiums available? When are West Ham due to leave Upton Park? That holds what, like 35,000?

There's always Twickers

well the challenge cup final has been there twice in 2006 and not sure of the other off the top of my head so its possible, not sure how popular it would be though so lets see what other posters think ????????

Don't mind it tbh, though I can't see it being a popular choice on here



Plus all the Quins fans would leave and go home, after their match has finished

I can see that really hurting the crowds

That's why I was being ironic



Though as long as it brings more Londoners to the game, I'm all for it.

Saying that, it would be like a home game, 3k-4k Quins fans would be an added bonus to the crowds, it's a hell of a lot easier for Catalans fans and the transport links could be better for London but they are still very good compared to the rest of the UK.

There is space around the stadium for activities and not many pubs close to the stadium (keeps fans around the stadium).

It could also help grow Quins crowds.

Pretty close: you missed out one detail though

RFL: By the way, we don't want to pay money to hold the event: we want the football club, the city council and the regional tourist board to pay us to bring the event to your stadium.

Make the Magic weekend an International event. Make it an annual one off GB Lions test against the Aussies or Kiwis and put it on at the Millenium or a venue in London. (Emirates?)
Could have France verus Ireland as a warm if you want to keep the multiple game thing going but I don't think that really makes much difference.

It will be far more attractive to the neutral, get more publicity in that area and still provide a jolly up for all rugby fans. Make sure no other games are played that weekend.

This could be the curtain raiser to the season or mid-season.

Profits from the game would then be split between the clubs giving an incentive for them to ensure it sells out!