It's a shame that the new stadiums in Nottingham, Birmingham and Bristol haven't been built and have stayed at planning stages. All 3 cities would have been good options to take a weekend to.

Newcastle - Stadium is in the centre, there's lots to do away from the rugby and various options for places to stay, which might get more people to stay for the whole weekend. Even if people don't stay for the whole weekend there will be more people taking day trips due to it being easier to get to.

The weekend could also possibly be moved to the 2nd Spring bank holiday that would avoid clashes with some other events, including the football season.

Elland Road please.

Wimbledon !

Wood hails success of The Magic Weekend 2010. What else could he say I guess. The "slight dip in attendance" (18%) blamed on the "difficult economic climate" which I guess didn't exist last year. superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17551

Wood hails success of The Magic Weekend 2010. What else could he say I guess. The "slight dip in attendance" (18%) blamed on the "difficult economic climate" which I guess didn't exist last year. superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17551

Its far too easy to blame it on the "difficult economic climate", I dont think 52,000 is a success. What they need to do now is look at why fans havent gone to the magic weekend and see what they want changed. Money hasnt been the only reason fans havent gone, although it obviously is the main reason for others.

I agree. There was a worse economic limate in May 2009. I don't understand how he can claim a drop of 18% in attendances as a "slight dip" either.

It's great the progress that the country has made under its current Prime Minister over the past 12 months.

Indeed. Shame he will be gone by Friday.

Yea a slight dip of 18%


Now thats a politician's answer

Personally I just think it's an idea that's just run it's course.

The RFL are pretty much relying on the same people going year in year out and inevitably numbers will start to drop once the novelty wears off for a number of those people, as has happened this year.

I don't think it's anything more sinister than that really, just a natural thing.

If you want a mid season "event" then how about reverting SL to a straight 26 games playing each team home and away and that's it - thus actually creating a level competition for a change - and use a free weekend for a high profile international instead of playing France on the same weekend as a full round of SL fixtures?

Whether that be a mid season test V Australia, England V France or England V The Overseas Stars of SL. If it's the later then a double header with England 'A' V France being the pre-game would surely pack out somewhere like Headingley, the JJB or KC.

I still think a 7's tournement would work better and be more enjoyable

You are Bobby Fulton and I claim my £5.

I had another top weekend, really enjoyed it. I'm afraid RL has a very high proportion of moaners amongst it's fanbase. Edinburgh has to be one of the best cities in the UK to spend a weekend in - absolutely loads to do and see there (as long as you are prepared to put a tiny bit of effort in and don't expect to be spoon fed). No it's not a quick hour's drive along the M62 - but that's the whole point! It's somewhere many RL people don't visit very often if at all and so a weekend away is justified. I certainly wouldn't consider spending a weekend somewhere like Manchester or Leeds or Birmingham.

The matches themselves - as I expected - were not as predictable as everyone thought and as usual the games deemed "least attractive" were the most interesting. The supposed top game, Wigan v Hudds was dull in the 1st half and one sided in the 2nd. Most games though had good entertaiment.

The point people often make about the stadium location - well again I don't see the problem. OK, yes it's not in the centre so you can't just pop in and out of the stadium but this doesn't have to be a major drawback. It really isn't that far to walk and a taxi isn't too expensive between a few of you.

The only two big criticisms I have are: the weather and marketing. I think it should be played slightly later in the year - maybe the second May bank holiday - to have a better chance of decent temperatures and less chance of rain. And yet again there was zero promotion of the event in the city, surely a bit of effort there could have attracted more locals to attend.

Anyone who hasn't been to any of the events, I would urge you to give it a go (if we are lucky enough to get another one) - we can be very self defeating at times. People moan that it doesn't look very good because the crowds are poor so don't bother = downward spiral.

I hope the Magic Weekend stays and more people give it a chance next year. I would like a change from Edinburgh - just for a bit of variety, as I don't have many complaints about it as a venue - maybe a different date and alot more promotion.

But let's not throw away a good idea too soon. Look at State of Origin...

play it at craven cottage

Quote ="SEB"You are Bobby Fulton and I claim my £5. I had another top weekend, really enjoyed it. I'm afraid RL has a very high proportion of moaners amongst it's fanbase. Edinburgh has to be one of the best cities in the UK to spend a weekend in - absolutely loads to do and see there (as long as you are prepared to put a tiny bit of effort in and don't expect to be spoon fed). '" Good for you. I hope I am not included as a moaner or requiring spoon feeding. Indeed I went last year and am well aware of the charms of Edinburgh as a city (although Athens of the North is a bit of a stretch). I just pointed out that the attendance was down markedly on last year and that, together with the feedback I've read, that it could be considered a failure in general. In closing I wonder how many native Scots attended the games - which afterall is what it is all about - showcasing RL. It seems I am not alone, interesting article here. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 658027.stm

Quote ="SEB"You are Bobby Fulton and I claim my £5. I had another top weekend, really enjoyed it. I'm afraid RL has a very high proportion of moaners amongst it's fanbase. Edinburgh has to be one of the best cities in the UK to spend a weekend in - absolutely loads to do and see there (as long as you are prepared to put a tiny bit of effort in and don't expect to be spoon fed). '" Good for you. I hope I am not included as a moaner or requiring spoon feeding. Indeed I went last year and am well aware of the charms of Edinburgh as a city (although Athens of the North is a bit of a stretch). I just pointed out that the attendance was down markedly on last year and that, together with the feedback I've read, that it could be considered a failure in general. In closing I wonder how many native Scots attended the games - which afterall is what it is all about - showcasing RL. It seems I am not alone, interesting article here. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 658027.stm

Quote ="Wires71"Good for you. I hope I am not included as a moaner or requiring spoon feeding. Indeed I went last year and am well aware of the charms of Edinburgh as a city (although Athens of the North is a bit of a stretch). I just pointed out that the attendance was down markedly on last year and that, together with the feedback I've read, that it could be considered a failure in general. In closing I wonder how many native Scots attended the games - which afterall is what it is all about - showcasing RL. It seems I am not alone, interesting article here. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 658027.stm'" No, wasn't including you in the moaning or spoon feeding bit. But I stand my Bobby Fulton analogy. Instead of throwing the concept aay because crowds are down and local interest low, we should be looking at why and looking to do better next year. i.e. better weather, more marketing, encouraging local schools to attend/take part somehow, engaging local businesses etc should all help.

Quote ="Wires71"Good for you. I hope I am not included as a moaner or requiring spoon feeding. Indeed I went last year and am well aware of the charms of Edinburgh as a city (although Athens of the North is a bit of a stretch). I just pointed out that the attendance was down markedly on last year and that, together with the feedback I've read, that it could be considered a failure in general. In closing I wonder how many native Scots attended the games - which afterall is what it is all about - showcasing RL. It seems I am not alone, interesting article here. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 658027.stm'" No, wasn't including you in the moaning or spoon feeding bit. But I stand my Bobby Fulton analogy. Instead of throwing the concept aay because crowds are down and local interest low, we should be looking at why and looking to do better next year. i.e. better weather, more marketing, encouraging local schools to attend/take part somehow, engaging local businesses etc should all help.

Looking at generating more interest in attending yes ... But has anyone suggested it has nose dived financially since moving to Scotland ? I understand it hasn't!

This is where the apathetic nature of some RL fans comes into play, we're 4 years into the magic weekend thingy now, and you could say suggestions of that nature have been made every year since it started, and despite the RFL and nigel wood coming out with the same positive spin and BS about what a success it is, when really it just feels overall like a big let down.

I know i mentioned this after the second magic event at cardiff that they could have given loads of free tickets away for certain sections of the stadium to local schools and clubs and whatever else youth oriented groups to get people, families, kids, parents in to see the event. As i say, 4 years in, still nowhere near half filling the stadiums at anyone time, seats to spare, they could do this. Get the locals in, strangely, the only actual scottish person i spoke to in the stadium at the weekend was a fella who lives in warrington and i've known him for years.

We actually got kicked out of the upper tier during the wakey leeds game as it was shut.

Now, just to say, i'm saying these things above, not as a naysayer but a fan of RL above Warrington Wolves, i go for the weekend to see as many of the games as possible, not just my own team, if its on again in the same capacity i'll be going again for the full weekend.

play it at craven cotage plz.

Have heard rumours that they want it in dublin for 2011 but can't see a lot of people attending that myself!!!

dublin , newcastle , city of manchester stadium

also heard that they wont be doing a magic weekend

and also heard there going to do it before the start of the season

Its need a change, the Edinburgh one hasn't quite worked and it's gone abit stale in my opinion.

Then you heard wrong !

At last. I thought I was on my own....

Three things needed for magic weekend to succeed:-

Accessability
Affordability
Support

A long trip to Edinburg (a heartland of rugby UNION on a weekend where I understand there was a rugby union tournament on) seems to fail on all three.

I also went for the whole weekend, main reason being there to watch all the other teams in action live as this is the only chance of the season where we get this opportunity.
I agree with above, don't throw away the idea too soon.

If I had to decide on a location, I would say Newcastle for the reasons;
1 - Plenty of accomodation in and around the city centre
2 - Much cheaper than a capital city
3 - The stadium is right in the centre of the city so keeping costs down for what can get quite an expensive weekender
4 - It's close enough for a day trip for fans who may not be able to afford to stay the whole weekend
5 - It will help boost RL in the local area and this can surely only benefit Gateshead Thunder
6 - Smaller stadium and personally I believe it creates a better atmosphere than Murrayfield
But obviously there are downsides;
1 - Business end of the football season and Newcastle will be a Prem outfit (Maybe move to the latter May bank hol?)
2 - Weather could go either way (Out of control, increase the odds of increased temperatures again by moving it back a few weeks?)
3 - Will Newcastle even want 7 games of RL on their pitch and 14 teams over a bank holiday weekend? (From a tourism point of view surely they would be mad to say no?)
4 - Cardiff lost the event as they did not take steps to promote the event locally, would Newcastle bother being such a football mad city? (Tourism and money again surely...)
5 - Stadium will still look empty if between 25-35k turn up per day (close off sections of the stadium, eg. upper tier or give away unsold tickets to local schools and colleges)

Other issue is the matches, but I read on an earlier post, a mixture of derbies and seeded games would be excellent, Wire v Pies, Stains v Leeds, Hull derby, Bulls v Hudd, Cas v Wakey, Salford v Crusaders, Quins v Catalans...

All in all, a lot of valid points have been made but please RFL do not scrap this idea... The chance to watch 14 teams, 7 games of RL in 2 days is brilliant as I love the sport and this can only be a good advert for the sport. That's what it's all about is it not?

Let's get an SL wide poll going... Majority wins? Either way, make a decision soon guys, I want to make the plans and get it booked!!!

Roll on St James Magic 2011!!