It's ok peple being fo the opinion that they don't want to go back to Edinburgh, but to claim there aren't any decent places to eat is going too far.

The city has more decent bars and restaurants than anywhere else I know (outside London).

Personally I'd be over the moon if it were to be at Murrayfield again, but I expect the whole concept will be shelved.

Its need a change, the Edinburgh one hasn't quite worked and it's gone abit stale in my opinion.

Then you heard wrong !

At last. I thought I was on my own....

Three things needed for magic weekend to succeed:-

Accessability
Affordability
Support

A long trip to Edinburg (a heartland of rugby UNION on a weekend where I understand there was a rugby union tournament on) seems to fail on all three.

I also went for the whole weekend, main reason being there to watch all the other teams in action live as this is the only chance of the season where we get this opportunity.
I agree with above, don't throw away the idea too soon.

If I had to decide on a location, I would say Newcastle for the reasons;
1 - Plenty of accomodation in and around the city centre
2 - Much cheaper than a capital city
3 - The stadium is right in the centre of the city so keeping costs down for what can get quite an expensive weekender
4 - It's close enough for a day trip for fans who may not be able to afford to stay the whole weekend
5 - It will help boost RL in the local area and this can surely only benefit Gateshead Thunder
6 - Smaller stadium and personally I believe it creates a better atmosphere than Murrayfield
But obviously there are downsides;
1 - Business end of the football season and Newcastle will be a Prem outfit (Maybe move to the latter May bank hol?)
2 - Weather could go either way (Out of control, increase the odds of increased temperatures again by moving it back a few weeks?)
3 - Will Newcastle even want 7 games of RL on their pitch and 14 teams over a bank holiday weekend? (From a tourism point of view surely they would be mad to say no?)
4 - Cardiff lost the event as they did not take steps to promote the event locally, would Newcastle bother being such a football mad city? (Tourism and money again surely...)
5 - Stadium will still look empty if between 25-35k turn up per day (close off sections of the stadium, eg. upper tier or give away unsold tickets to local schools and colleges)

Other issue is the matches, but I read on an earlier post, a mixture of derbies and seeded games would be excellent, Wire v Pies, Stains v Leeds, Hull derby, Bulls v Hudd, Cas v Wakey, Salford v Crusaders, Quins v Catalans...

All in all, a lot of valid points have been made but please RFL do not scrap this idea... The chance to watch 14 teams, 7 games of RL in 2 days is brilliant as I love the sport and this can only be a good advert for the sport. That's what it's all about is it not?

Let's get an SL wide poll going... Majority wins? Either way, make a decision soon guys, I want to make the plans and get it booked!!!

Roll on St James Magic 2011!!