Don't panic it hasn't been decided by anyone yet.



There is talk of back to back Challenge Cup semi's at the Millennium Stadium on our site.

Wishful thinking from some I know. I think fans would go for it though if it wasn't for the money problem.

Virtually every fan I have spoken to this year have enjoyed themselves and mention the weekends down at Cardiff they enjoyed previously which meant they came back.

It'd be interesting to hear fans views on here about this.

One semi at 2pm and then one starting at say 4pm which would be doable as the two teams starting at the later kick off warm up next door like they did for MM the last two seasons.

What do you lot reckon?

Would it be considered as a home game for the Crusaders though?



Not a bad idea and one that would, again, increase RL's profile in Wales which seems to one of the RFL's aims. Would need to be marketed properly though.

I thought the same. Would it be able to cope with the demand for tickets as well once our Wembley band wagoners jumped on.

I don't think so.

I am a huge advocat of having the CC semis as a double-header. Not sure about Millennium Stadium, but if they offer us money again (hint hint Welsh Tourist Board!

) I would be strongly for it. Surely a game as big as the semi-finals will bring in a lot of fans if played at somewhere more exciting than bloody Huddersfield! Add that the number of interested locals and could be on.

WTB obviously want the business. I doubt they'll get the same number of fans coming down as MM over the full weekend, but reckon it will be at least as full (if not more full) than either day of MM. I'd not open the top tier, though. Middle and lower tier only. Middle tier reserved, bottom tier unreserved.

If they do it though, announce it now and not after the semi-final draw has been made so neutrals can plan for it!

I think that would be great but just maybe not in Cardiff, but have a back to back at another stadium.

I just think there are enough long trips for fans to make atm.

Brewery Field to MS - 22.6 miles
Headingley to Galpharm - 19.2 miles

Wasn't an issue for Leeds in their many CCSF games there (especially against Toulouse which was pretty much a selected home game!). At least if Celtic got there it would be coincidence if they announced the venue now.

Also, the final is in London. Home game for Quins?
The Stoop to Wembley - 10.2 miles.

(I know you were only saying it tongue-in-cheek, but I know that some people will genuinely feel like that is a point!)




The best way would be to announce it ASAP so that neutrals can attend. They should really be negotiating with the WTB now about it after losing the Magic Weekend. Instead of renting stadia, they might actually be making money out of it!

South Wales already has SL games, so I can see your point. I would like to see the Midlands get a land-mark game at some point. But if someone stumped up the cash for a change (which the WTB have done before) then I won't complain!

I'd rather have a double header at the city of manchester to be honest. There's enough long haul trips already

I see your point in that many would like it to remain up North.

Maybe Newcastle would be a hit with the City centre location of the ground.

Walkers stadium would be a good venue for a double header IMO or perhaps the Ricoh arena in coventry. Both areas like their Rugby and Fc v Quins(Broncos) have played at Welford road before

good idea to have them back-to-back at the same stadium, but there is a significant risk of stretching the RL supporters too thinly. Already we expect people to go to Edinburgh, Wembley, Catalans, Bridgend plus 20-odd other league games.

would neutrals go to watch the semis in cardiff? would part-timers travel all that way? bearing in mind that we can only get 20k for the semis in Huddersfield.

Edingburgh - (The Magic Weekend)
London - (CCF)
Catalans
Celtic
Harlequins

I'm sorry, but I don't subscribe to this "there are enough long-haul trips" thing that continuously gets pulled out. The RFL aren't trying to target the same people to go to every event. They're trying to broaden their market. If you can't afford to go, don't go. It's absolutely nothing in comparison to football or even rugby union.

I think it would be a big flop.

We struggle to fill small capacity stadiums on our doorstep for semi finals and I really couldn't imagine the MS being more than a third full at any point during the day.

It could be that people just don't think that Huddersfield is much of an "event". Not many neutrals from Huddersfield go to watch the games there either in my experiences of games there (they already have a team and so do many in the surrounding area). Plus, it is announced only 3-4 weeks before the game where the venue is.

One stadium. One day. One event. It's the only chance people will get to experience RL at that ground that year if it's a different venue so it will be more attractive. And if they announce it early then people can plan for it. The CC is for everyone, not just for the north (or SL clubs).

I personally wouldn't be interested in a double header, especially if it was held in Wales.

There is only 3 weeks between the semis and the final. Why, in this financial climate, would they consider a double header in Cardiff?

Not a big fan of the idea of a double header at the same ground, in fact I hate the idea. I like the idea of a game on each day of the weekend. The idea of a game at the Millenium Stadium, not a fan of that either. I don't think a cup semi will ever be a big enough event for the Millenium Stadium. Plus, I am a big fan of deciding the venues once the semi-final games are known so the only way the games should be considered to be taken away from the north is if Quins or Celtic reach the semi's.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't the whole RFL expansion about getting the game out of the M62 corridor? FWIW I'm not keen on the CCSF being held a the MS, I just don't think there would be a big enough crowd.

If the RFL were to do something like this I'd like to see some fan research done, ie. questionnaires asking fans for thier opinions. How far they're willing to travel etc etc. Instead of taking a huge gamble on a CCSF MS double-header.

The CC is the 'Holy Grail' of RL, thus it should be marketed correctly.

I like the idea of the CCSF being held at the MS, but in reality it wouldn't come to fruitition because the stadia would look empty and therefore would make the CC look like a mediocre competition, when in truth it's quite possibly one of the best competition's in the land.

That would be my worry really. Could we fill it?

It would be embarassing for the game if it was half empty.

I'm all for expansion, in fact I don't think enough is been done at the top level in fact. But I don't think the cup semi-finals are a good tool for expansion, just the same as the cup final, play-offs and SLGF. I'm a fan of Magic weekend and its this type of event that is what the RFL should use

I really like our Semis when its in Huddersfield

It's also up to the BBC. if they want a match on Saturday and Sunday, then that will scupper a double header.

You wont' have a semi this year.

i think a double header would be a good idea, but not at a stadium as big as the millenium.
the stadium didnt fill at MM with the fans of 12 teams coming to watch 6 games, never mind the fans of 4 coming to watch 2. i accept that there will be neutrals there but not maybe 20000+ neutrals.
a double header in a smaller stadium would be much more realistic IMO

Had this idea when the furore over Hull v Wakey at Doncaster was around.