I fail to see how moving it from Cardiff to Edinburgh could in any way but used as similar to changing when RL is played. If the concept was so fantastic as some are suggesting, where it was played would have little difference. I actually preferred Edinburgh to Cardiff having been to both.

The fans are voting with their feet on this one, and from a marketing and PR view for the sport it doesn't look good.

Well as well as moving from Cardiff to Edinburgh, they changed from derby matches to random fixtures (and since back). They also changed from May Bank Holiday weekend to the 2nd week in February. I agree it looked poor on TV.

i haven't been to a magic weekend, but that doesn't mean that i, and others who haven't been to one, don't have a valid opinion on the event. just because i don't eat at mcdonalds doesn't mean that i can't have an opinion on how unhealthy the food from there is.

there are a number of issues with the magic weekend this year which in my opinion mean that the event was not a success.
1) the event was held on the first weekend of the season where teams are not playing at their best, hardly a good advert for our sport when trying to attract new supporters to our sport.
2) the event was held in wales the same day that the welsh rugby union team were playing.
3) we couldn't even half fill the stadium on either day of the event (in fact, the total attendance could have fit into the stadium at the same time and there would still have been empty seats).
4) there isn't enough accommodation in cardiff, if it's hard to find somewhere to stay when the event has sold less than half the available tickets, then where are other supporters supposed to stay if they turn up.
5) even if all the tickets are sold for the event, the stadium will never be filled due to fans coming and going whenever they want and only watching their own team and maybe one or two other games. this would not come across well on tv.

despite the above points, i'm not saying that the event should be scrapped (although that is my own personal view), but if it is to succeed then changes need to be made. firstly, move it closer to the heartlands of rugby league (not necessarily to lancashire or yorkshire, but somewhere closer than cardiff). this would reduce travelling time/costs making it more accessible to rugby league fans.

another option would be to have a host city rather than a host stadium, with games spread across multiple venues (situated close to each other so fans can attend all games if they wish). this would reduce wear and tear on the pitch and increase the likelyhood of finding suitable venues, particularly if the magic weekend takes place after the football season has finished.

one thing that would definitely not improve the event is giving away free tickets, this rarely works as a lot of tickets simply won't be used. if you look at wigan for example, they have a no free ticket policy, yet are the best supported club in the league.

i'm not claiming to have all the answers, in fact, i'm not claiming to have any of the answers, but i am suggesting that changes need to be made if the event is to be successful in the future.

Well said

Liverpool Magic
Games staged at Anfield and Goodison Park, walk through Stanley Park to each game with camera crews filming it and showing clips just before the game interviewing fans, if they only show the games and a 5 second clip of the outside events nobody will see what it's like, maybe press the red button for a live camera from Stanley Park with Brian Carney mooching about looking for funny people to chat to and acting daft
Major events in Stanley Park with decent but not that expensive/famous comedians ( Jack Whitehall, Kevin Bridges, Lee Mack) aswell as beer tents, bands and pop acts.
An hour between each game for people to see the comedians, bands, acts etc
Have it May Bank Holiday weekend
Have a famous comedian as a compare rather than some over exited Keith Chegwin soundalike
They were made up Joe Calzaghe was there as was Mickey Rourke, celebs and sports stars will turn up to anything if they get paid to make an appearance so lets pay a few and get them in the crowd
Give away tickets to the local school kids (Primary School otherwise there would be stuff getting nicked everywhere


Have ushers ushering loitering fans geting them into the stadiums for the games
Some sort of free merchandise for fans who go to every game
Up the tickets prices accordingley

Saturday Sunday

12 - Pop act to open the event - 12 - Pop act/Band to open event
12.30 - First game (Goodison) - 12.30 - First game (Anfield)
2.30 - Comedians and pop act/band - 2.30 - Comedians and pop act/band
3.30 - 2nd game (Anfield) (Wire v Hudds) - 3.30 - 2nd game (Goodsion Park) (Leeds v Bradford)
5.30 - Comedian and pop act/band - 5.30 - Comedian and pop act/band
6.30 - Final game (Hull Derby) - 6.30 - Final game (Anfield) (Wigan v Saints)

The beauty about this would be if you watched the event on the Saturday and liked the look of it you could easily say sod it we will go 2moz for the others it looks good, you can't do that really with Cardiff and Edinburgh.

Only 6 games but I'd rather lose the bottom 2 teams from the previous years table as this event would be a reward for not being crap.

Thoughts? Should I be working for the RFL or what?

Last game of the weekend, Hull v Hull.... Is that about 4 1/2 hours drive to get home? Not the best plan for a school night.

My view was the same when they played the first four in May - it didn't really take off then. Changing it to the 1st round of games in February doesn't really change my view, or it seems whether the fans embrace it or not.

There's certainly mileage in trying to be innovative to get some publicity - for example play a double header at the COM Stadium (us v Stains, Leeds v Bradford) and do similar elsewhere in the way union have done in their heartlands. I'm in no way a flatcapper, but seeing less than 20,000 people rattling around a 75,000 stadium for our biggest derby games hardly shows the game in a good light.

Not saying it should be scrapped, necessarily, but the reasons I don't like it are:

1. Cost (not just cost of travel/tickets/accommodation, but for many of us the cost of time off work. My business can't afford me to be missing all weekend - same reason I can't go to Catalans away).

2. It unbalances the fixture list. If it was treated as one of the regular rounds, it would not only be fairer, but would perhaps free up a weekend for a much needed England practice match. "Home advantage" could alternate year on year.

3. The vast majority of fans are only interested in their own club's match, which, as already pointed out, leads to an almost empty stadium for the more poorly supported clubs.

The only problem with this is Wigan, Saints, Leeds, Bradford, Hull and Hull KR will miss out on their biggest crowd and much needed revenue every other year.

Apart from issues such as distorting the fixture list the real problem with MM in my opinion is it fails to do what it is supposed to do which is promote the game.

Who is the Rugby player who just about anyone in the UK could name today? Chris Ashton.
Would he be as well known if RU had a similar weekend, i.e. one round of the domestic competition played at Twickers? I seriously doubt it. Domestic RU is no more big a deal outside its heartlands than RL is outside its own.

MM is an insular event in that it takes a domestic competition on the road but it remains supported by the current fans and I don't see the incentive for people in South Wales to go. Add to that a stadium of the size of MM is just not needed it just looks poor and so this makes RL look a poorly supported sport when in fact most games featured are capable of attracting bigger crowds when played as normal. MM would probably look a lot better if it was "Reebok Magic" given the size of the stadium or as others have suggested at Man City's ground. That still would not address the point of what the event is for though.

If it is to give fans a weekend away then you can argue if it is worth it given what it does to the fixture list. If it's supposed to be to promote the game nationally then IMO the novelty has worn off and it's well past its sell by date. MM is and always has been for me something that has the RFL spending time money and effort it could better employ promoting the international game.

Just to add fuel to the fire (especially for those who don't like facts), this weekend was the lowest attended 1st round of matches since 2003 (when there was only 12 teams), and was still beaten by 2004 and 2005 when there were only 6 matches as well.

Add in the fact none of those opening rounds had the main derbies as well for good measure.

Ouch.

Great stat Andy

Just arrived back home .

Have been to all 5 Magic weekends and enjoyed every one .

Have been to Cardiff 6 times for varrious matches at the Millenium and that was the quietest and flattest i have ever seen Cardiff. If they are to continue with this weekend i think they have to move it back to one of the May Bank Holiday weekends or the event will die.

What?

Its clear you don't care!


I can't afford to go to Catalan but I am not suggesting that it should be played 'closer to the heartlands' so that I can attend.

And no-one is telling you to píss off to another sport because you cant go to catalan.

Thats a bit strong and uncalled for. The point I am making is that you chose not to go. That doesn't entitle you to suggest it should be cancelled for those who did go and enjoyed it, like I am not suggesting that the Catalan game should be played at Leigh so that I can go.

I think you need to read your post to him, it was you who started to be confrontational to him and when he gives it back you moan. He has an opinion. If he chooses to go to no match this year he is entitled to give it on every game, its the point of a forum.

Please explain what is confrontational about my post. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. What I am saying is that an opinion is more valid if the person has attended and can speak from experience.

You personally attacked his post as saying he is uncalled for. If someone attends a game or not their opinion is no different. I didnt got tom MM this year but can add mine as much as any one less. Just because you went doesnt make your point any more relevant. You see how you attacked my post as I quoted you? thats what you did to the other poster so its expected as you single them out.

Personally I had a great weekend.

I didn't attack you'rs or anyone elses post. How can you possibly say what this year's MM was like for those who did attend if you did not attend?
Why don't you try applying some logic in the debate?

Hold on, like I said you attacked his post as you quoted it, and then tore it apart. If you dont like debate stay away from forums. I didnt say I went, I didnt go as it was, and always will be cold in Feb, so I said it before and it wasnt cryptic or difficult to understand was it?

MM for me, well.....

This was my first, did i enjoy it ? yes

Did i think it was fantastic and amazing ? not really

It just felt like a normal away fixture.

The home fixture we had with Featherstone last year (division below) had a better atmosphere.

It's nowt special

So was it worth the expense?