Okay so theres been some rumours about where the next Magic Weekend will be held (presuming there will be one) Obviously Cardiff and Edinburgh are obvious candidates but I've also heard rumours it may end up in Ireland. London is also another possiblity in the hope of spreading the game in the UK first before we work on other countries. I also heard that the RFL have spoken to the froggies about holding it in Paris.

But earlier tonight I heard another rumour. Someone said that it may be held at Manchester as a one off as it is a more central location in the hope of getting a bigger attendance. This idea quite interested me, however would it clash with the football season?

So I'm wondering where you guys would like the Magic Weekend to be held in the future and why?

well it wouldnt clash if it was on a weekend when UTD were playing away. they have the grand final during the soccerball season. I dont object to it being held in cardiff, its much better than edinburgh, the local businesses really know how to hike prices when an event is in town, not saying that doesnt happen everywhere, but ive certainly felt the pinch in edinburgh.
manchester works for me, would certainly get a bigger crowd.

Who are UTD?

Leeds United?
Newcastle United?
Hereford United?

as to the reasons why, i reckon it could well be a sell out, all the clubs in the north west are about 30 miles away at most, plus, leeds, Bradford, huddersfield arent that far and its certainly easier for the people of hull than getting to cardiff.

And as the poster specifically mentioned Manchester as a possible venue, i think it goes without saying that i mean Manchester utd. I also mentioned the grand final is also played THERE. which again makes it pretty obvious i mean Manchester

smart

I think it would be better suited to a bank holiday again if it is going to be anywhere where most people will travel however if they are still intent on having it as season opener then having it at Old Trafford could work.

No it won't

, you seriously think that Manchester United would allow 7 RL matches on their pitch in February

It happens either in summer , or at Cardiff in February

the best location for me would be newcastle.

60k stadium bang in the city centre, loads of pubs,hotels, easy by road and loads of trains,also not too far for the day trippers to get to.

Ah right then they're Manchester United..there is more than one "UTD" you know

I quite fancy it in summer actually. Barbecues beer gardens etc. Oh yeah UK doesn't really have a summer

No there isn't really

Newcastle sounds interesting. People could get the train in etc and it sounds a good place but is it a Rugby League place? Would the locals take to it?

Then again Cardiff and Edinburgh weren't too familiar with Rugby League before Magic Weekend

i think the geordies are exactly the people that would enjoy the carnival atmosphere within the city and maybe a few would go a long and watch a few games of rugby.like old trafford it would after be played after the football season end of may bank hol would be ideal.

They still aren't

newcastle is certainly an interesting one. and yes starbug, that would be the major stumbling block in manchester. the soccerball lot wouldnt go for it, pitches being treated more delicately then the effete lot who play there every week.

Dublin

Benidorm

Keep it in Cardiff and let it grow.

This event could only ever "work" in Cardiff or Edinburgh. I say work, it hasn't exactly taken off has it?

The whole point of the Magic Weekend is to promote the game outside of the Heartlands and to get people to go for a 'weekend'. If you stick it in the heartlands, people will go for day, yeah it would be a sell-out but it wouldn't benefit the local area as the majority of people would sod off and go straight home.

My suggestion is Nottingham. Good night out for the party-goers and a decent enough but large stadium with plenty of atmosphere.

France wouldn't be a bad shout, lets see if the French would be willing to attend this event in huge numbers!

Why Ireland? All RU!
Why Newcastle? Football mad.

People! Come on. It has to be in a high profile city, i.e. the capitals to tempt people in making a weekend of it. The point is not to sell out, that defeats the whole point of coming and going to the rugby as you please. With proper marketing to get locals interested and full support from current fans it would be a massive success in Cardiff. That means adding another 10,000 on the gate from last weekend. Thats all the aim should be for the time being.

I could see some sense in it being at Eastlands, with the new Salford Media City. Newcastle would be a non-starter for mine. Jonny Wilkinson and the Falcons couldn't tap into that market, so what chance have Gateshead got?

Dublin or Paris would be wonderful, but they'll be played in empty stadia.

I'd say stick with Cardiff or go to London in the spring.

This.

The reason that the Magic Weekend exists at all is because the RFL gets a zonking big cheque from the local tourist development board. Invite 14 RL clubs and their fans down to their city and enough of them will be wanting somewhere to stay for the weekend.

Forgive my scepticism but I can't see Visit Yorkshire or Visit Manchester writing a fat cheque to the RFL when the target market for an event is people who live on your doorstep and, at most, an hour and a half down the road.

As someone who is firstly a Hull FC fan, then RL fan but lives in Sussex I fail to see how Newcastle is not too far for a day tripper like me, or Quins fans, Catalans fans etc etc. Even from Hull Newcastle is not so easy in a day.

Manchester has the GF. It would also probably mean fans only turning up for their teams game. Unlike with Cardiff for example which encourages fans to stick around and make a day of it, or weekend.

I am biased but give it to London and get Quins developed along with the Skolars. It would also attract people up from the South Coast where RL is developing well.

I dont know how many time people need to be told this.

It will never happen on a soccer pitch even in the off season!

It will never be at the city of Manchester as they can only hold so many non soccer events and go for concerts.

the whole point of the magic weekend is not to promote RL outside the heartlands that is the secondary reason. It is because Cardiff was used when wembley was closed. when everything went back to wembley they thought oh heck we are losting out of a ton of business. Those RL folk were well behaved when they came here. Let get them back and fill cardiff with nice northern folk with some from London and France and let them have a jolly up.

Oh and its not the locals that bump the prices it. Its the chain hotels.