I think Manchester is a great choice. While the areas surrounding the city are RL heartlands, RL doesn't get the attention it deserves in Manchester itself, and with BBCSport moving to Salford there can't be a better time to increase the games profile there.

8 of us were planning to go from work, including 2 non rl fans, cant see any of us bothering now, who wants a weekend away in manchester?

People who enjoy visiting civilisation?

Lancashire would be the last place you would visit if that was your aim, have they even got electricity yet?

Are they allowed to consume alcohol in the seats at the COMS ?

Thus proving just how fickle Rugby League fans really are.

Indeed. Pathetic.

Weekend in Manchester sounds superb to me, far better than going to a toilet like Cardiff.

Don't see the point in this. I thought the purpose of the Magic Weekend was to take it to a new audience, not another location on the M62.
The fans are just gonna leave after their match anyway, so they'll still be an empty stadium.
It's unfair on us and Catalans, that we're the only ones expected to travel again.

As I would be traveling from London, the journey to Manchester is no different to Cardiff. Just a different train!

I don't mind it being in Manchester. Times are hard for families so maybe the RFL should keep it closer to the majority of fans next year!

I will say this though, if the fans in the heartlands do not turn up for this then we are in big trouble!

I don't like the sound of this talk about fans leaving after there supported team's game is over. That will seriously suck if we see that all day.

I've been to and enjoyed every Magic Weekend however it's a shame that attendances haven't been as high and that many supporters either only want to stay for their match or need to leave because of day trips. Plus it can be expensive in these hard times.

Manchester should mean that most could stay for at least the day, it will be cheaper and could lead to great attendances. Should try Newcastle and Birmingham in later years as if they are going for June that is outside of football season so no worries about pitch recovery.

2 of the 8 are none rugby fans and even two of those that are wont have a team to support there, why waste holidays and lots of money for a weekend in Manchester, for the same money we can all go to see a catalans game, which you must admit is far more appealing. Fantastic cities like Edinburgh and Cardiff i will shell out for but Manchester isn't worth it.

Are you having a giraffe or what? Cardiff is worth a weekend but Manchester isn't? It's one of the UKs most important cities.

With 7 games of rugby over the two days, just how much of the city do you actually see during the weekend?

Exactly.

Forget a SL round and its artificial pairings, instead the Magic 'weekend' should be the World Club Challenge in Newcastle, the Midlands or even London. That match surely is more marketable to non rugby league fans than a round of SL.

Not if nobody turns up

I like the idea of Manchester for this year. Not too far for most teams so likely to be a full house.

I'd like to see it go to London in 2013 to build up for the World Cup and see if we can generate a bit of interest for that

What's MM got to do with spreading the game? Holding it at Murrayfield didn't suddenly motivate a load of Scots (the few that bothered to go) to run out starting RL teams.

It's a novelty event. I'm not personally keen on it, but not so much as to get too bothered by it....unless that is, that people at the RFL think its got something to do with expansion. It doesn't.

For the non rl fans that we convinced to go see the odd game out of the 7 so they had the chance to visit cardiff too much. If i had unlimited holidays day and money i would still go but i dont, and going to france or 4 more away games with cas is more appealing than manchester. Sorry if that offends you so much but manchester really doesn't do it for me, wheras i love cardiff and edingburgh.

I dont particularly care about a cities 'importance' when planning trips away, i care about how much i enjoy visiting.

Have you or your friends actually ever visited Manchester properly and seen what it has to offer?

Why would you have to use any holiday allocation for a weekend? From Castleford you can travel to Manchester much quicker than travelling to Cardiff or Edinburgh, so you don't need to take Friday and/or Monday off.

And the Monday is apparently going to be a Bank Holiday anyway?

Quote ="pyeman"who wants a weekend away in manchester?'" Is about 3.5 million people enough? menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... r_tourism_

Quote ="pyeman"who wants a weekend away in manchester?'" Is about 3.5 million people enough? menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... r_tourism_

City lease the stadium and part of the conditions are that they are the ones that have the final say on whether to allow it or not. The council leave all decisions on concerts and special occasions to the club.

Fact is that City need the cash to help comply with the UEFA financial fair play regulations and the pitch will be relayed the following week anyway so why not?