Any fixture involving Leeds will be played in Yorkshire.

Wigan v Wire would be played at Langtree.

Any fixture involving Catalans would be played at the nearest good stadium to the English teams own home.

It all depends on who plays who in the semis, but potential stadiums should be Galpharm, HJ, DW (now the football season has finished anyway...), LP..etc

Not sure on a double-header really as I think it would harm the atmosphere and I feel it would affect crowd numbers of the 4 teams. Unless it is is a London v Catalans semi final (unlikely) as the crowd would be abysmal. Other than that potential outcome I can't see much benefit of having a double-header.

I think a DH would be great, but would need plenty of build up.
Depending on the seating arrangement, the atmosphere wouldn't be that affected.

So as a saints fan If your 1st game in the semi final and you get through to final would you stay to watch let's say wigan play the other game or the team you want to play against or want to lose. Unlike magic weekend where people leave after there game more would want to stay to watch the other outcome and cheer on other teams. Even if you lose the game you might stay to watch you local rivals hopefully mess up aswell.
Would be good day out aswell if in right place after the match aswell as the two finalist teams might want a bit of banter or chat about the upcoming final. That's a few pros there. Can't really find out much negative things.

And I'd put forward Sheffield Utd as a venue that would be a hit. Big city, big modern ground. Would be great, and very attractive for the neutral.

Not sure about it being a modern ground and access is hardly great for supporters from outside of Sheffield.

I suppose not, but I just don't think a DH is necessary unless it is a Catalans v London game.

I think the opposite. I think a double header would likely get more than the combined total of the two semi finals separately, unless it is London vs Catalans, which would get a far better crowd in France as a stand alone.

Nobody seems to have mentioned the RFLs own stadium in Bradford.

I know that Leigh sports Village was in contention last year. This year - maybe not, with Langtree Park now open and Leigh almost certs to be in the semis...

Salford?

Surely a possibility?

I still think that Odsal should start becoming more of the home of RL now it's owned by the governing body of the sport. Have one there and make more money.

But like someone said to me on another thread, it is a bit of a dump. But start using some of that money to do it up a bit so we've got a RL Stadium to be proud of.

I did, on Pg 1, keep up son.

Odsal is dire. I love old fashioned traditional RL grounds with history and character which odsal certainly has, but your just so far away from the action and unless its a full house the atmosphere is terrible

Its about time we stop playing second fiddle to football and play the semifinals at a RUGBY LEAGUE GROUND, loads to choose from like the grounds at Bradford, Leeds, St Helens, Warrington and Widnes and possibly Leigh.

Just out of interest, why do english teams get home advantage against the dragons? One year they should play a semi in france, would be good for the game and french rugby league

I think if they want to play in what is essentially an English cup competition, then they should expect to play neutral games in this country.

That is unless we want to change the empasis of the Challenge Cup to that of a European compettion.

no thank you ....thats one part of the city i avoid

Agreed.

I couldnt think of a worst place for a semi final than SUFC how many empty seats would there be.

No chance of a double header the dates and times are already penciled in by the BBC. Just the teams and venues to arrange.

London v Dragons I would have in France not in the UK

Well, if we're going with a double header (which is what the suggestion was for SUFC), then considering the semi finals (since they've decided to take them to smaller stadia) have averaged about 25-30k combined over the last 15 years, a 32k stadium would be a fairly good fit I reckon.


This year, yes.
Next year, if announced ahead of time and designated as an RL Event from the start of the season, it'd sell out I reckon. Easily sell about 5k to neutrals before it's even known who's playing IMO.


Agreed.

I would like to see any semi-final involving Catalans (this includes Wigan) to be played in France. They could potentially get a huge crowd in Toulouse or Montpellier or just at the Union stadium in Perpignan. I doubt it will happen though. The RFL are not that smart.

A double-header would always be my choice with really cheap tickets. £5 concessions £10 adults at Elland Road/Bolton/Sheffield/COM depending on who is in it. Could even have the NRC final as part of the same event between the two semi-finals. It makes that a bigger day with a bigger crowd. That would be better than the magic weekend IMO. Much more cost effective.

agreed

You've just completely devalued the event. There is absolutely no need to make it that cheap. Two games for a tenner? I'd say £20 could be too cheap for a semi. Marketing and venue choice are the reasons the semis don't do too well. Reducing the price would benefit no-one.

And you couldn't have the NRC Final there. The NRC Finalists could be involved in the CC semis. Hull KR were in 2006. Leigh are a very slight possibility. You can't make that risk.

Are you really doing a marketing degree?