Bloody stupid post. Can everyone afford to go to Cardiff for a game of rugby? Of course those who went will defend it, they obviously like the idea because THEY WENT. This doesn't make them any better or any more qualified to have an opinion. It's people like you with the high and mighty attitude that annoy me, every fan of Wigan or any other club is a fan of the greatest game. If all those who weren't there buggered off like you say the game would be dead in water.



They are a fan of Wigan (a rugby league club) on a rugby league forum, surely that qualifies them to have an opinion?

As someone who attends as many games as possible (i presume you never ever miss one?) I can say that it wasn't an excuse. You need to look around and realise that Cardiff, for most people, is a long distance away. For some this is not an issue, for others it's just too expensive. Don't be so narrow minded. It is not the ticket prices (which I thought were well priced) that were the issue. If you read all my post you will see that I like the idea of the event, it's the location that (in my opinion) causes issues.

60,000 people will disagree with you. I have no objection to you saying that at the moment you couldn't afford to go but to suggest that the event is a waste of time without having sampled it does not qualify you to comment.

Ok so you are happy with the ticket prices, you also like the idea of the event but the cost of travel is the issue. Well how about coming with us for free next year and then decide if the event is good and should be supported.

Hang on, the whole point of having it at the Millenium Stadium is to promote the game to the Welsh, not bus load the existing fans to fill the stadium otherwise we may as well have it in the North West.

If they are serious about having it at the Millenium Stadium they have to promote it so the stadium is packed full of Welsh Rugby League fans. I'm sure it's better to give away tickets to schools and RL clubs and make money from selling fod and drinks than have a stadium half empty looking embarrasing and then turning round at the end saying it's the best one yet, Nigel Wood sounded like comical ali when he said that.

No matter where they have it they can't have empty stadia any more, they need to give away a boat load of tickets to the schools because you know they will turn up.

For starters, it's nowhere near 60,000 people. Many of those will have weekend tickets, therefore will be counted twice.

If you read my original post you would have seen that I went last year and wanted to go this year. I haven't said it's a bad idea, in fact I said it's a good idea, just not implemented in the best way in my opinion. Like I keep saying, it's not whether some people want to support the event, but whether they can. Obviously some people dislike the idea and will not attend ever, but not everyone who didn't attend has this mindset. Even if they did, it doesn't make them less of a fan, and the sport cannot afford to lose them.

He has sampled it. I know this as he responded to my original post and stated this.

The problem with the thing is the cost. I am a student, like he is, and the ticket price is fine but the hotels and travel are not cheap and that is the issue for a student. A lot of Rugby fans are families and people who are students and of student age and I think that is the problem we have. Its damn expensive to take a whole family or for a student to afford it. The friend I attend the Wigan games with managed to go this year as he works but he had to go with Wire fans (i know lol) but I simply could not afford it as I have more important things to spend well over £100 on than a trip to Cardiff to watch Rugby. The most annoying thing for me is actually that, as in May I no longer need to attend University, I would have had some of my student loans as surplus and could have afforded it. Sadly that is how it goes sometimes.

DAMN YOU JAMIE PEACOCK!

Stupid idea having the opening day when Wales were playing Scotland.

That is probably the stupidest thing I have ever heard. How can people who didn't go possibly be as qualified to have an opinion as those that did.

If you couldn't make it for financial reasons, other commitments or whatever then that's a shame. Even if you just couldn't be bothered to go, I don't have an issue with that, it's a long way if you don't want to watch all the games. But if you didn't go, don't sit there and say it should be scrapped. That's what is pathetic.

Was it really that much more expensive than for a run of the mill away game?

Take away the accomodation (I only went for the Saturday), I spent £12.50 for the ticket and £21 for the coach. The rest was on food and drink, yes the Stadium beer was £3.60, £3 for a pie, £4.10 footlong hotdog. But at the same time we found a bar about half a mile away from the ground which was £1 per pint and £3.99 for a Chicken & Bacon Burger and Chips.
I decided on the day to drink moderately (think I only had 3 pints all day) and came home having spent next to fook all, certainley not much more than say a trip to Harlequins / Hull. Having Hoffman as first try scorer in the coach sweep helped a little.

You tight get

Ey I had a Stadium hotdog and pint I'll have you know.

BTW - The sign in the stadium said

Pint - £3.60
Pie - £3.00


Pie & Pint Deal - £6.60


How is that a fooking deal?

Seeing as the attendance is less than the average for a normal weekly round over the last 5 or 6 years and the fact it hasn't grown despite this being the 5th year, it's pretty simple what needs to happen to it. The fact it distorts the fixture list as well adds to my opinion it needs putting out of its misery.

Are you equally as driven by numbers and figures in other areas of your life?

If you mean do I base an opinion on a number of things, including taking account of certain facts - then yes.

I support the game by buying a season ticket for Wigan, going to most away games, attending internationals when they are over here, buying international and club merchandise, supporting & donating to charities such as the steve prescott fund and the wigan warriors community fund, taking my nephew to play and train for st pats, buying him season tickets and merchandise, introducing friends and family to the game. Just because I dont believe in some stupid idea of the not so magic weekend which has NOT been a success for 5 years on the trot now does not mean that I should bugger off and watch another sport. Its idiots like you who tell fans like me to bugger off an watch another sport that are the problem, not me! Get of your high horse you idiot.

No, it means you should try it before you criticise. Tell me on what grounds you don't believe in it, or think it has been a failure.

A success would be a packed stadium each day. A success would be glowing reports, nobody coming back to say a bad word about it, players talking to the media about how much they love the day and how they cant wait to get out there. The Magic weekend has never been a success.

Its a failure because the stadium is more than half empty every time, we have actual players coming out and slating it in the media (last year, cant remember who it was) every year its just a slip-a-thon on the pitch because of the abuse its taking, we have journalists and pundits slating it in the press, people coming back with bad reviews year after year (just look at this thread, theres a few who have been and said they wont be going back)

Its embarrassing to watch. It makes our Sport look so insignificant compared to the success of RU.

Its been tried, tested and failed, the RFL should just scrap it and try other ideas. Some things work for them, as far as this goes, it doesnt.

Maybe next year you can go and see how much of a failure it is for yourself

Please read my posts in this thread and tell me where I've said the magic weekend should be scrapped?!



I actually said I think it is a good idea, just not implemented in the best way. I attended last year as I stated earlier, so I have a fair idea what the weekend is about (I know that was Edinburgh but it's the same idea). So you are saying people who don't attend, but do support OUR sport can't have an opinion? You're trying to make out that I think it's a terrible idea and this really isn't the case.

It's a vicious circle really, you decided not to bother going to the game as you heard poor reports from last season and by doing that you ensured that one seat at the millenium stadium was empty. Now think that there could be 30,000 other Rugby League fans who thought the same as you, which made what would have been a 3/4 full stadium and a complete success instead a 3/4 empty stadium and a pretty poor showing again.

What the RFL need to work hard at is persuading you (and the other 29,999) like you to get to the game despite the negative reports of this and the last few years.

I'm not sure if the RFL can turn it around, which is a shame really.

I wasn't referring to you as such. Just people in general who have criticised the idea without trying it.