According to the Sun is going to be in Manchester next season. Didnt the RFL sign a 2 year deal when it went to Cardiff? www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... -City.html

According to the Sun is going to be in Manchester next season. Didnt the RFL sign a 2 year deal when it went to Cardiff? www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... -City.html

Thats been doing the rounds for a while and i reckon its true, bank holiday weekend in May (sorry june) in Manchester, don't really think its a good idea but we'll see.

I guess attendance may be better as there is less distance for the majority to travel, but can't see that many people making a big weekend of it and staying over for both days.

I've missed the last couple but will probably end up going for the day whenever we are playing but won't stay over and see both days.

Not for me in Manchester, i likes to go away for the weekend. Takes the shine off it for me, dont think many will go

Possibly as the combined attendance for both days was only just over 60,000 last year i was there first day and it seemed ok if not busy but a very empty top tier. Not a very special stadium to have it in though is it.

Been to the last few magic weekends, but not over keen on this idea. If it is in Manchester it will have to be in late may/june time due to the football. Prefer cardiff again, made for a good weekend away last year!

I thoroughly enjoy the magic weekends, but part of the pull factor is that it's a long weekend away. Going to Manchester doesn't exactely excite me, especially after several rounds of SL.

If it were to be staged in Manchester, it'd be best as an opening weekend to entice fans to make the effort.

i think that there will be many that go for just the one day not the two.

Agree with all of the above tbh and for it to be on the may/June bank holiday after half the season is abit pointless. It won't be at the start of the season though as the wendyball club will moan about a ruined pitch.

They might as well had it Elland Rd at least there are bars within walking distance to the ground. One day for me and the group too.

i think the fact it was the first weekend helped increase attendences. many may have been going along the withdrawal lines and wanting to go to it to see a live rugby game due to lack of them over winter. if its in june people on holiday may have a negative impact too.

Who knows it could get renamed Tragic weekend after the Manchester expierence

I could quite fancy going to Manchester for this to be honest!

I think this could be a good idea from a financial point of view. Not many fans can afford the Magic Weekend/Wembley/Catalans away in one season. Giving them the chance to make the Magic Weekend more affordable may save the funds to attend the challenge cup final or Catalans and the grand final. This may help attendances for other finals.

One day for me not 2. At least it is in a warmer part of season, can't see many going on both days.

I think with so many fans saying that it is expensive going to so many events, and the escalating costs of accommodation in Cardiff then I think two full crowds is the key thing, whether folk stop for both days is a little irrelevant.

Seems like a good idea to me as fans can pretty much pick and choose very easily how they want to play it. Close enough to just go for your own teams game or to travel both days to watch all the games or stay over in Manchester for the whole weekend.

Some ace nights out in Manchester - I'd probably do the whole weekend if it was there.

If confirmed it will probably become a "success" for the RFL as aggregate attendances will almost certainly go up with the venue being in the heartland of the sport.

However, there will be fewer people going for the whole weekend and the immediate vicinity of the Etihad (like Murrayfield) is not as good for fans as Cardiff.

If it goes to Manchester it will be a backward step for the game and a damning indictment on the RFL's intentions for the sport in Wales.

might have to get the hummer out again or even hire an open top bus

what do yer think Al

Plus it means we can try to set off within 45 minutes of kick off.

That's not even a challenge.

45? Ahh you mean in plenty of time to get a curry beforehand?

Area around the ground ain't great for hanging round so fans are either going to stuck in the hround or spread out all over manchester, thus losing the 'weekend' atmosphere. Own goal for me this one.

I was factoring in that we'd head for Maine Road first, then Gigg Lane.