I think people need to lift the wool over their eyes and realise that just because they had a good day/weekend doesn't mean that in its current form the magic weekend can be classed as a success. During some of the less glamorous games the attendances were shocking! no two ways about it. Even the bigger games weren't exactly huge. There are definitely ways to improve on the current format to make what is a decent concept an actual success. I dont think playing in front of a quarter full stadium can ever be classed as successful, be it a regular league match, a special format such as the magic or a cup final.

I'd say 5 years of flatlining is proof enough - you can apply the defibrillation for as long as you want but it won't change anything unless we try something new.

If it was showing any signs of an improvement, I might agree, but the fact is, it isn't.

Who cares if the stadium wasn't full, or if more people would have turned up overall for a regular round? Those arguments for scrapping it don't make any sense. It's an additional fixture, it's not in place of a home game for any club, nobody loses money from it and the RFL make a tidy income so where is the sense in scrapping it? If it didn't exist, all that would happen would be that the RFL would lose out on the money and the fans would lose out on a great weekend. It's a great event which is of no detriment to the game.

Course it is the number of tickets sold!! Do you really think if i ran out and in 50 times that would be added to the total!!!



What people are saying is some people (like me) went for 2 days and therefore bought 2 tickets so count as 2 - which is misleading I guess.



Your right - what do those that want to scrap it gain?? Nothing

If you don't like it don't go - as many of you proved. Those of us that do go (and will continue) have a great weekend. Saying that I know of atleast 2 people who whine and whine about it but still went and then whined and whined when they come home and think it should be scrapped - if you don't like it don'[t go!!!!



How many do we take to Quins each year? Alot granted probably 3-5 thousand every time but never 10-12 thousand (for a normal league fixture) and yet everyone comes back saying what a great weekend?????

Those that went will agree we me when they say Wigan must have had atleast 4500 there on Sat night???

Erm.. Exactly my point, for the actual total, the people who bought two-day tickets would be counted as one ticket. Of course I wasn't suggesting that leaving and re-entering the ground would add to the total!

It would count as 2, when you went in both days it would record your entrance.

The point being for those who think that because they had a great weekend so it should continue, is that it's suppose to be a showcase for the sport, not simply another mickey-up for the fans. I enjoy going to Quins but I wouldn't want it to be held-up as a showcase for the sport. I've enjoyed myself at MM in the past but I can still see what an embarrassment it is in it's current form. If RL fans can't be bothered to attend in the numbers they usually do, why should anyone else?

Perception is everything to those who we want to attract in terms of other fans and sponsors and all they'll have seen is red and green empty seat, not a good look.

As others have pointed out its not 60K and the reason it is a failure is because it fails to do what it was supposed to which is be a showcase event that broadens the interest in the sport.

It now attracts little to no attention in the media and looks anything but a showcase event on TV. As I said its just another away game for all the existing fans and this is reflected in the crowd figures.

In my opinion the RFL moved it to the first game of the season to try and tap into the desire of fans starved of their RL fix to get back to supporting their teams and I think this shows they know they have a problem. Given W/L/A figures that didn't work did it so what will they do next to try and drum up real support for the event? Or will they stick their heads in the sand and stubbornly keep banging on abut what a great success it is despite it looking anything but to anyone who turns the TV on to watch?

ok sorry thought you were being rather stoooopid!!! lol

sorry





Fair point and I agree it isn't the greatest advert for the game but what is??
Scrapping it wouldn't help anyone or get us on a better/bigger stage.

I don't have the answers I wish I did love.

Yeah we had a few drinks this weekend but normally we take my other half's 11 year old son and friends of ours also had kids with them. This is my point about staying in Cardiff - there is loads to do for everyone.

The original idea was to take it out of the heartlands to help develop the game.
Let's have a couple of goes in London and if it still doesn't take off, keep it, but just stick it in Manchester/Leeds/Newcastle or Liverpool and just make it about profit.
The majority of fans i would have thought would only attend the day their game is on anyway regardless of if it was Cardiff London or Manchester.

I reckon we should continue the idea but hold it in the South of France. Weather in Feb is around 16 degrees. Cost might be a bit extra but not much and you would get all the fans staying for the full weekend.

And people think 60k is a bad result
You'd get 40k absolute maximum.

From my own personal perspective, having attended with my wife and six year old son, I have to question who the RFL feel they are trying to attract to the event.

If they want coachloads of lads/men/teens drinking from noon until dusk, then its brilliant, keep banging the drum and you'll attract them.

If they want to attract a wider audience of people, and yes, there are people out there who don't feel it abundantly necessary to quaff large amounts of ale to get them through a whole weekend watching RL, then they really do need to re-visit the drawing board.

I'd be interested to find out how many of my fellow Wiganers were under the legal drink-drive limit after the game finished as a mere straw poll of attendees.

I went.

I can't say I loved it.

I didn't say I hated it but I certainly didn't [ilove[/i it.

Ergo, your second point is untrue.

It's ok for the gin dodderers at RL HQ. They don't need to worry about such things.

opening up with the ferocious derby steeped in tradition that is Wire/Hudds another masterstroke

I would have gone

Leeds/bulls
2 big teams, proper derby to open up

Crusaders/salford
Follow up with the 'local' team

Cas/trinity
wire Hudds

Sunday
Start of with a passionate
hull derby

Quins v cats
The 'filler'

Finish off with biggest Derby
Wigan/saints

So, using the same logic, playing the CC final at Wembley for the first ten years in a half empty stadium must also be classed as a failure in your eyes.

Stop banging on about 80 years ago! Like I have already said, there is clearly no talking to some people because they have just been to Cardiff and had a good weekend, which I can fully appreciate. I didnt go this year but have been to previous ones and enjoyed it. This doesnt automatically mean it has worked, or certainly not worked as well as it could do. At the moment the RFL have landmark events such as the GF and CCF which attract the supporters, now in 2011, and one event which doesnt, and means the biggest derby games in British rugby league are played in front of a quarter full stadium.

Oh so you agree then! We are making some progress at last.
You don't like the magic format which is your choice. Just don't again. You won't be missed with such a negative attitude.

Whoah, whoah. I have never said I dont like the Magic as a concept, in fact on this very thread I have said the complete opposite. I just think that there are better ways of doing it and after 5 years without any real progress in terms crowd size I think its now time to start trying something different. All I did was suggest more suitable sized stadia closer to where rugby league fans live and see if that works any better, as I dont see any reason why it wouldnt.

Wembley is miles from the heartlands and that eventually caught on (after some poor crowds for 10 years). I agree that a slightly smaller ground would be better until the magic concept catches on but it is the number of fans attending that really matters and not the number of empty seats.

But do you really think it is "going to catch on". Its had 5 years now and isnt showing any sign of it. This years aggregate crowd is actually lower than what it was in 2008 after which the RFL decided to try Murrayfield. I just think its time to try something different.

And for the last time, Wembley is for one of the most highly regarded trophies in the sport, not just a fixture added to the regular season as MM is.

And for the last time - Yes but moving the CC final to Wembley was not popular initially with the fans and was played with half empty stadiums. This is an historical fact. It is a good thing that the RFL didn't listen to people like you otherwise the Wembley experience would have been abandonded and moved to Maine Road or somewhere else near to the RL heartland.

you paying?? my brother in law is coming France this year for the first time and he asked me is it expensive when your there????? mmmmmmmmm just a bit

IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T TRY AND FIX IT!!