Yes, if we're going for a "magic weekend" my preference would be to have it as the first round of games after the split, which would mean there's not an uneven fixture schedule leading up to the split, all the teams in that final seven games could then have three home and away games plus the "magic" game, and it would operate as a good springboard for that phase of SL. And yes, it would be later in the season and you might need to rearrange some of the Challenge Cup schedule but surely that could be worked around

The problem there is that the situation would be similar to play-off games, when people would wait to see who's playing who and not even bother getting tickets. There's already some excitement in the NE about this and it will help the build up if the public know what the fixtures are.

I would also suggest that anyone who's coming up on the Friday makes a point of going to the Gateshead Thunder v York match on the Friday evening at Kingston Park (the Falcons ground). It's easy to get to by the Metro and also has a huge carpark. It would give a huge boost to RL in the NE if the Thunder got a good crowd.

+1.

This is a serious concern of mine. I'd imagine most would go for behind the sticks?

That's what I would have thought as well but that stand is humongous! The east stand along the side has a lower roof and will trap sound better making us louder than we already are, will look more full and is likely to be facing the sky cameras.

Gallowgate End can create some noise.

My thoughts initially with regards to the travel, is it taken then all or most of the other fans are going to make an early dart with the RFL content with the receipts and overall attendance rather than how the crowd looks at the finish.

People on here are never happy. 2011, the last game in Cardiff was the Hull Derby and everyone was hyperventilating because they had the furthest to travel. Reading this forum most are tucked up with a mug of Horlicks by 8 so heaven forbid we have thn last game. You just can't win!

I'm just disappointed that it's Saints again and because of that i just can't cba going to Newcastle, i have to book time off work, book a hotel get the train tickets and i wanted a Saturday game, night out, go home Sunday.

Instead it's Saints again...boring, magic should be mixed up.
With all the lower end (in numbers) clubs...no atmosphere.
Rushing home for 6 start on the monday...not happening, i stopped burning the candle at both ends years ago.

I've just looked at you posts Wire Yed ... you look a right bundle of fun! Cheer up now. You might have to watch it on TV. The world is not going to end.

Fun...i can be, going to a game is a little different for myself (it's a ballache logistically).

I need the enthusiasm to arrange time off work with several people, calling in favours and taking on an extra workload.
Then the 400 mile round trip (to warrington) or 550 to Newcastle.

It has to excite me to put some effort in to basically alter 2 weeks of my life for 80 minutes of rugby, excuse my pessimism.

Not being funny but after you was upset when the fixtures came out about missing out on the Saints regular round fixtures due to them being Thursday night SKY games does this not present you with an opportunity to watch a Warrington v Saints match live?

Magic is an event i enjoy as a whole, strange that even though it is technically another fixture i enjoy the "magic" of it, I'm rota in work, and playing Saints at this 'event' and all the other associated things as taken this away from me, the hassle of juggling work around this has just put me off.
I have been a bit moany of late and I'm going to shut up about it,after all it was my decision to live far away, just the whole season set up been a bit crap for me this year.
Hopefully sky lay off the Thursday games in 2016, I'll get to the odd game through the year just enjoy a good home game against the locals.

Not as far to travel for me as wife as booked us a holiday in Whitby starting that weekend.

My wife booked us three nights in Whitby last September really enjoyed it a nice chill out, the weather made it so out and about each day you should enjoy it there.

Good place to visit, try the pork pies at Elizabeth Botham's, plenty of boozers, Robin Hoods Bay and Runswick Bay also worth a look. Give yourself plenty of time to get to newcastle, the North Yorks roads aren't great.

Cheers for all that info, will be travelling on the train from Whitby, unless the wife fancy's going into Newcastle then she can drive.

Unless I'm doing a job up to there, the tourer caravan to Whitby Bay for me.

Not the easiest way to go. I think you'll have to go to Middlesbrough, then Darlington to get to Newcastle. Worth checking well beforehand.

Hope you mean Whitley Bay? Whitby is 70 miles down the East Coast.

Thumbs up Tees

Aye, already looked it up, but i prefer to do it that way as hate being in car longrr than is necessary.

A19 from Middlesbrough via Sunderland.

By far the easiest way, but he's on about going by train so he can have a drink. The awkward bit by road is getting from Whitby to the A19. N. Yorks roads aren't great.

Latest news, over 10,000 tickets sold in the first week. Apparently last year it took 6 weeks to sell the first 10,000 tickets, 29% bought by people in the NE.