60000 didnt attend, a lot of people would have been there for both days. Also thats over the entire day and a lot of people went home after their game but were still counted as they entered the ground initially FACT!. 1998 Wembley was when Sheffield brought about 200 fans FACT!

60k is the total number of people in the stadium over 2 days, including those that bought weekend tickets so would be counted twice. As has been mentioned previously a lot of people only went for their own teams game so what was the actual maximum attendance at one point, I bet it isnt much over 20k. There was definitely never 60 thousand individual rugby league fans in Cardiff, nor has there ever been at any of the other four magic weekends, whereas there are 70k fans at old trafford and 80k at wembley. FACT

Still counts as 60k paying customers though doesn't it? Making money for the RFL.

Simple FACT still stands, for the people who go it's a great day out, anyone who doesn't is missing out. It's a class event and if RL fans were willing to support it then it would be the best and most unique event in british sport.

The FACT is that 60,000 is the lowest round 1 attendance since 2003 (which only had 6 games).

Another FACT is that 60,000 is less than the normal average weekly attendance for a good number of years.

Yep lets celebrate what a wonderful successful MM is given those FACTS, especially when sponsors and others we want to attract to the game see some our biggest derbies being played out in a stadium a quarter full. Sends out a great message about the sport doesn't it?

You say it like MM needs to pass those figures to be a success. I don't believe it does. It is not a home game for any teams so obviously a normal first round set of games would bring a higher crowd because 6 or 7 teams are at home. Thats not the point of the event, it is to spread the game (which it does) and also to make money (which it must do, the RFL would not carry on if it didn't).

Is it a FACT that you were one of the 60k?

Well seeing as less people go to the games than normal, even given how "special" we keep being told it is, it's pretty obvious it isn't working. If the RFL are happy with a few hundred thousand at the expense of how it makes the sport look to those people the event is meant to attract - it tells you everything you need to know about those at the RFL. The fact they still haven't killed this off in it's current form after 5 years of embarrassing PR, tells you that Nigel Wood shouldn't be running a bath, never mind a sporting body.

If people want to see how these types of events should be done - just look at how rah rah stage and market special club games.

Not that it matters, no. But seeing I've been to three of the other four I reckon I should be ok to have an opinion even by those s who think you need to be there to be able to comment.

True but that doesn't kill the concept, it is a fantastic one which I believe they should stick at to make a true success.

I'm all for doing something innovative, but in it's current form it just doesn't work for me. I cringe when I see the matches on TV and how empty the stadium looks for Wigan v Stains, Leeds v Bradford, Hull v Hull KR. 5 years of doing the same thing without having an kind of bounce in terms of PR or attendances shows it's time for a change.

Some have said that the reason to keep it going is how much people have enjoyed it who were there - I've enjoyed it when I was there, but I also enjoy when we go to Quins and there's 5,000 on.

Here lies the difference, all this debating if pointless. I believe it should be carried on for a few more years to try and make it a success. You don't. I can't see anything changing that unless it gets alot worse or alot better in the next few years.

I think people need to lift the wool over their eyes and realise that just because they had a good day/weekend doesn't mean that in its current form the magic weekend can be classed as a success. During some of the less glamorous games the attendances were shocking! no two ways about it. Even the bigger games weren't exactly huge. There are definitely ways to improve on the current format to make what is a decent concept an actual success. I dont think playing in front of a quarter full stadium can ever be classed as successful, be it a regular league match, a special format such as the magic or a cup final.

I'd say 5 years of flatlining is proof enough - you can apply the defibrillation for as long as you want but it won't change anything unless we try something new.

If it was showing any signs of an improvement, I might agree, but the fact is, it isn't.

Who cares if the stadium wasn't full, or if more people would have turned up overall for a regular round? Those arguments for scrapping it don't make any sense. It's an additional fixture, it's not in place of a home game for any club, nobody loses money from it and the RFL make a tidy income so where is the sense in scrapping it? If it didn't exist, all that would happen would be that the RFL would lose out on the money and the fans would lose out on a great weekend. It's a great event which is of no detriment to the game.

Course it is the number of tickets sold!! Do you really think if i ran out and in 50 times that would be added to the total!!!



What people are saying is some people (like me) went for 2 days and therefore bought 2 tickets so count as 2 - which is misleading I guess.



Your right - what do those that want to scrap it gain?? Nothing

If you don't like it don't go - as many of you proved. Those of us that do go (and will continue) have a great weekend. Saying that I know of atleast 2 people who whine and whine about it but still went and then whined and whined when they come home and think it should be scrapped - if you don't like it don'[t go!!!!



How many do we take to Quins each year? Alot granted probably 3-5 thousand every time but never 10-12 thousand (for a normal league fixture) and yet everyone comes back saying what a great weekend?????

Those that went will agree we me when they say Wigan must have had atleast 4500 there on Sat night???

Erm.. Exactly my point, for the actual total, the people who bought two-day tickets would be counted as one ticket. Of course I wasn't suggesting that leaving and re-entering the ground would add to the total!

It would count as 2, when you went in both days it would record your entrance.

The point being for those who think that because they had a great weekend so it should continue, is that it's suppose to be a showcase for the sport, not simply another mickey-up for the fans. I enjoy going to Quins but I wouldn't want it to be held-up as a showcase for the sport. I've enjoyed myself at MM in the past but I can still see what an embarrassment it is in it's current form. If RL fans can't be bothered to attend in the numbers they usually do, why should anyone else?

Perception is everything to those who we want to attract in terms of other fans and sponsors and all they'll have seen is red and green empty seat, not a good look.

As others have pointed out its not 60K and the reason it is a failure is because it fails to do what it was supposed to which is be a showcase event that broadens the interest in the sport.

It now attracts little to no attention in the media and looks anything but a showcase event on TV. As I said its just another away game for all the existing fans and this is reflected in the crowd figures.

In my opinion the RFL moved it to the first game of the season to try and tap into the desire of fans starved of their RL fix to get back to supporting their teams and I think this shows they know they have a problem. Given W/L/A figures that didn't work did it so what will they do next to try and drum up real support for the event? Or will they stick their heads in the sand and stubbornly keep banging on abut what a great success it is despite it looking anything but to anyone who turns the TV on to watch?

ok sorry thought you were being rather stoooopid!!! lol

sorry





Fair point and I agree it isn't the greatest advert for the game but what is??
Scrapping it wouldn't help anyone or get us on a better/bigger stage.

I don't have the answers I wish I did love.

Yeah we had a few drinks this weekend but normally we take my other half's 11 year old son and friends of ours also had kids with them. This is my point about staying in Cardiff - there is loads to do for everyone.

The original idea was to take it out of the heartlands to help develop the game.
Let's have a couple of goes in London and if it still doesn't take off, keep it, but just stick it in Manchester/Leeds/Newcastle or Liverpool and just make it about profit.
The majority of fans i would have thought would only attend the day their game is on anyway regardless of if it was Cardiff London or Manchester.

I reckon we should continue the idea but hold it in the South of France. Weather in Feb is around 16 degrees. Cost might be a bit extra but not much and you would get all the fans staying for the full weekend.

And people think 60k is a bad result
You'd get 40k absolute maximum.

From my own personal perspective, having attended with my wife and six year old son, I have to question who the RFL feel they are trying to attract to the event.

If they want coachloads of lads/men/teens drinking from noon until dusk, then its brilliant, keep banging the drum and you'll attract them.

If they want to attract a wider audience of people, and yes, there are people out there who don't feel it abundantly necessary to quaff large amounts of ale to get them through a whole weekend watching RL, then they really do need to re-visit the drawing board.

I'd be interested to find out how many of my fellow Wiganers were under the legal drink-drive limit after the game finished as a mere straw poll of attendees.