Magic Weekend: Etihad Stadium to host event until 2014

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Magic Weekend

Super League's Magic Weekend will be played at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium in each of the next two years.

The event was staged in the North West for the first time in May and attracted a record attendance of 63,716 combined over the two days it was held.

"The overwhelming majority of fans had a fantastic experience at the stadium and were keen to return," said Nigel Wood, chief executive of the RFL.

The 2013 Magic Weekend is scheduled to take place on 25 and 26 May.

All 14 Super League clubs will play a match at the event, with the seven fixtures set to be confirmed on Monday.

The Rugby Football League had previously taken the Magic Weekend, which was first staged in 2007, to Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

But the success of this year's event has convinced the RFL to keep it at the home of football's Premier League champions until 2014.

Wood continued: "The location and lay-out of the Etihad Stadium provides the perfect setting for this unique and very special sporting event.

"I am sure Magic Weekend will continue to grow in stature as more fans experience the extraordinary nature of Super League."

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  • Comment posted by kalgoroth, at 13:20 15 Nov 2012

    Living in Manc this is great news for me but I also think it's a sensible decision all-round. In reality how much did the events in Cardiff/Edinburgh actually achieve expansion out the heartlands? Crusaders fold and as far as I know the population of Edinburgh aren't exactly barging down the RFL's door demanding an SL team. Look after your own backyard before trying to expand into someone else's

  • Comment posted by U12035666, at 13:32 14 Nov 2012

    Excellent news, Millenium Stadium and Murrayfield were too far for people to go and the promotion of the game didnt work.

  • Comment posted by U15503896, at 14:43 16 Nov 2012

    I was at the last Edinburgh Magic Weekend. It was on the same weekend as a 10k race in the city and the Edinburgh Derby(football). The people up there are Rugby Union fans and are not in get
    Neural interested in Rugby League. It was very poorly attended and a major disappointment. I do. Not want to watch in an almost empty stadium with no atmosphere. Plus it cost a fortune.

  • Comment posted by sporting know it all, at 22:34 15 Nov 2012

    just because it started as a promotional event away from the heartlands doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Rugby League is founded on adaption to circumstances. This time there is more opportunity for Magic Weekend to be successful both financially and as an event in Manchester.

    I don't see Salford, Leigh or Oldham selling out their matches so why cant it be to build profile in Manchester?

  • Comment posted by deleted, at 18:24 15 Nov 2012

    For me it's either at Wembley or in Manchester. Proper weekend away or local to most supporters so we can go home and it doesn't cost as much. Advertise it at the football grounds and try to get locals that don't go to start coming. More chance they'll go to their local club then. Not every northerner watches league - there's loads of potential supporters between Standish and Cumbria for a start.

  • Comment posted by The Academy, at 13:41 15 Nov 2012

    The idea of a 'magic weekend' is the correct one as it's the high level one offs that draws people in. Personally at the moment to a relative outsider to the sport the highest level game I'm likely to watch is the State of Origin series. Would there be a way to get a respective game or series here rather than this weekend?

  • Comment posted by Lord_Reith, at 19:03 14 Nov 2012

    As a supporter of rugby league's Salford City Reds and the magnificent football champions Manchester City, I heartily endorse this decision.

  • Comment posted by Leaguefan, at 18:28 14 Nov 2012

    Plus the 2 games in 4 days over Easter gives "England" a superb chance of winning the World Cup.

    27 league games, 2 exile games, and potentially 4 CC games gives the "english" team real experience.

    The Aussies will play far fewer.

    Of course this set of fixtures is worthwhile. The results will be there for all to see next November.

  • Comment posted by stevowarrior, at 18:00 14 Nov 2012

    Great concept, now in the right location just spoiled by the fact it counts as a qualifying round in Super League and thereby creates an uneven fixture programme. The 14 clubs should each play 13 home and 13 away games in the qualifying rounds and not play one team a third time. The magic games would be far better rewarded with a cup for each of the derby ties.

  • Comment posted by Davros77, at 16:51 14 Nov 2012

    The whole point of the weekend is to spread the word of the game to other places in the country. Are they giving up on that already and assuming no one else in interested in it outside of the heartlands (which they clearly think may be the case). May as well just have the games at their normal venues rather than just coming to Manchester as they will attract just as high crowds being derby games

  • Comment posted by Chris, at 15:29 14 Nov 2012

    Had a great time at Etihad this year but wrong call for me. I thought the idea was to take it away from the heartlands? At Cardiff & Edinburgh we mixed & enjoyed banter with fans from all sides. At Etihad too many just roll up to see their side then go home.

  • Comment posted by U13294381, at 14:27 14 Nov 2012

    All but two of the Super League clubs are just off the M62 so it's not surprising that a venue just off the middle of the M62 is much more successful than venues far from the M62. Manchester is probably more useful, too: new fans at Magic Weekend in Manchester can easily watch more Super League matches live; new fans in Cardiff or Edinburgh can mostly only watch on TV.

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 14:20 14 Nov 2012

    It seems, inadvertently, that the event's focus has shifted to something more positive. It is a family sport, proven by the supporters in attendance and the general good-natured festival atmosphere.
    What other sports could you do this with? It adds an extra dimension to the regular league fixtures and offers smaller clubs greater support. I don't see how it skews the league table.

  • Comment posted by Hierros Left Boot, at 13:05 14 Nov 2012

    Excellent decision.
    Had a great time last year (partially because of a much smaller travel bill) with my personal highlight being 'Sugar Ray' Mossops massive right hook to floor Magennis in one punch after his cheap shot to Micky Mac.

    Bring on next season!

  • Comment posted by U15504436, at 20:12 16 Nov 2012

    great news! for the people on here saying it should be in another part of the world why? yes you have a small point on spread the game but to be honest the RFL does too much of that and forgets about the loyal fans in the heart land who have to pay hundreds on tickets and hotels just to watch their own team. The world cup is doing it next year that should be all that is needed to spread it.

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 00:03 16 Nov 2012

    London is too expensive for a weekend, unless you box clever. Cumbria would be a great place to hold it but the stadia/facilities aren't particularly great. There is, however, a great heritage in the sport and if anywhere needs promoting and strengthening, it is there.
    If I won the Euromillions then I'd build a municipal stadium there for one and all but alas I am not so lucky.

  • Comment posted by Gogledd, at 18:21 15 Nov 2012

    kalgoroth. You are correct that Crusaders Super League team folded (due to inept financial management) but fans rallies round and we now have North Wales Crusaders playing in Championship 1 - and having some of the highest attended home games in both CH and CH1. RL is expanding in North Wales with new amateur clubs forming and last season a North Wales conference starting. Expansion is good.

  • Comment posted by Rongle, at 20:07 14 Nov 2012

    Fantastic stadium and I can understand the decision. But for me, a trip to Manchester is little different to seeing my team play Salford, Warrington or any other Lancashire club - enjoyable as that is. I liked my weekends away in Edinburgh and Cardiff and would be happier with either of those for that reason. Great chance for all RL fans to get together and celebrate.

  • Comment posted by El Rapide, at 19:47 14 Nov 2012

    If we must have it then Manchester worked well last year, easy for most fans to get to. I would like the games to be based on the league table at the time, i.e. 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th, 5th v 6th etc., which would hopefully give 7 competetive matches.

  • Comment posted by andie99uk, at 17:15 14 Nov 2012

    Took a mate along this year & he loved both days so much, he now goes to see the Broncos as often as possible.
    Cant wait to get back there again!

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