Looks like Newcastle has won the rights to stage the Magic Weekend next year. Should be a great weekend, hopefully we get a Saturday game

More than likely it well be the last match on the Sunday as per usual to keep the crowds there, (with the pub tills ringing for the full two days)

The bank holiday is on the 25th May when Newcastle are at home on the Sunday 24th (this is also the last weekend of the Premier League season, so all matches are played on this day), but the last weekend in May is the 30th/31st. I'm assuming this is when the Magic weekend will take place. I'm looking forward to going to St James park.

yer avin a larf int ye?
even on the train it's a 3 hour ride back to the right side of the Pennines (on a weekday - the gods know what horrors await on a Sunday night). It'll be great for everyone within spitting distance, or the die-hards with time to spare. Those of us with a mortgage to pay off, will be listening on the radio (again).
It needs to be in a non wendyball stadium on a bank hol or the scheduling will always disenfranchise at least half the country.

It's official now

Just booked a hotel for three nights. I suggest people do the same before prices go sky high.

We were meant to go up there last weekend to see some friends but it was the Great North Run and the minimum prices were around £120 - £150 per night.

Room booked at Premier Inn central for 3 nights . Hotels in the Toon on a Saturday night are usually expensive . As Brian says "get in quick" Regards , EW https://aws.passkey.com/event/11822324/ ... 05/landing www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk/magic_weekend

Room booked at Premier Inn central for 3 nights . Hotels in the Toon on a Saturday night are usually expensive . As Brian says "get in quick" Regards , EW https://aws.passkey.com/event/11822324/ ... 05/landing www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk/magic_weekend

How does a mortgage come into it?

Three hours is hardly the end of the earth.

I'm more annoyed about the fact that they have (once again) removed it from a central location (easy access from both Lancs and Yorks), in a good stadium and taken it to an out-of-the-way area of the UK, with a 50/50 chance of our game not finishing until 21-22:00 on a Sunday night, followed by a 150(ish) mile drive home and school/work the following day.

I think it is the best choice but I do think it is very unfortunate that it has had to be moved yet again as I think it had found its 'home' at the Etihad. I read this morning that a long-term deal to keep it at the Etihad once the extension has been completed from 2016 should be announced shortly, which I think is great news.

I really wish they would change the format of it, though. I really don't think it works as an additional fixture and it sticks out like a sore thumb with new league structure. There at least needs to be some clairty about how the fixtures for it are decided.

Agreed on both points:

Etihad is a great place for it.

However - 9's, 7's, CC round of 16. Basically, it should be anything BUT a table-skewing, extra round of the league.

Pain to get to even by coach for another meaningless game. Give it a miss and save my cash for cup/play off away games instead.

Was hoping they would go for Newcastle, can't wait!

Monday is a normal work/school day - for anyone needing to get up early a 3 or 4 hour drive/bus journey/game of sardines on a train (or 2 - change at York I believe) might be a little much.
It's perfectly doable, but a pain in the arriss nonetheless

There is no chance of the Last Sunday game finishing at 21/22:00. The Sunday games will likely kick off at 1, 3 and 5 again so will be done by 7. Unless that put on specials there won't be any trains back though.

The Toon is a top venue these days. Great for food and a few pints. Watched the Rovers (BRFC) up there a couple of times. Will need binoculars if you're unfortunate to get near the back in the bigger stands. Can't wait.

think ill watch it on the tellybox

Fantastic city. Love Newcastle. 6 of us booked into a hotel in Jesmond with a few more booking tomorrow.

I may end up changing my mind, especially if a few mates decide to organise it, but I'm leaning that way myself. Depending on how the fixtures are sorted, it's likely we will face our MW opponents a guaranteed four times next season, plus potential cup and playoff games. I'm not sure there's enough motivation to travel to Newcastle for a league game that has been tacked on to the fixture calendar with no real purpose tbh.

Each to there own but I don't look at it like this. I see it as a weekend away with my mates in a great city with 2 full days of live sport to watch. Newcastle is always bouncing but it will be absolutely rocking that weekend. Plus there's nine months to plan and save for it so hardly going to break the bank. I'm not too fussed about who we play or how much the fixture means.

This isn't just a response to you btw, more of a general response to the negative comments I've seen about the weekend.

I love it as a concept, and I think the last few years at the Etihad have been excellent, but I hate the format of it. The weekends fantastic, but the purpose behind the weekend needs to be addressed. I'd have been saying the same thing even if it was still in Manchester. And I do think it matters who we play, in 2011 we ended up playing Saints 6 times due to magic, cup and playoffs and it completely took the shine off the derbies IMO.