Possible alternative to Magic weekend

[langpark]

I've never been convinced by the Magic weekend concept. I think three games in a row is too much. When it was in Cardiff, I could see the logic in holding an event like that in a 'non-League' area, but now at Manchester, that's no longer a factor...

Here's an idea I had. Way back when, teams had to play one home match per season 'on the road', right? To try and promote the game across the country. My idea is a combination of that and the Magic weekend.

Basically, there would be one round a season where a Super League team plays their match at the stadium of a Championship side. It would be a double-header, the Championship fixture first, then the SL fixture. Based on the teams that are in both divisions this season, how do you think these fixtures would go? (Stadium capacity in brackets)

Doncaster vs Sheffield / Castleford vs Leeds (15,231)
Halifax vs Swinton / Hull vs Wakefield (14,061)
Leigh vs Rochdale / London vs Warrington (11,000)
Crusaders vs Barrow / Warrington vs Salford (10,771)
Batley vs Dewsbury / Huddersfield vs Hull KR (7,500)
Featherstone vs Keighley / Bradford vs Catalans (6,750)
Whitehaven vs Workington / St Helens vs Widnes (7,500)


What do you think? Would it boost the Championship and its teams? or just a(nother) waste of time? ;-)

 

[Evil Homer]

The Magic Weekend is a fantastic event that you can't really appreciate if you haven't ever been. Seriously, it's really good and should definitely not be removed or replaced by anything.

 

[langpark]

I'm not saying it's not 'a great day out', I'm just thinking of what's in the best interests of the game. I don't think it made any serious profit nor does it result in more people attending. Let's take this year for example:

Day 1: 36,000
London vs Catalans
Widnes vs Salford
Hull KR vs Hull FC
Wigan vs Leeds

Had they been played at their regular venues, it would have attracted a similar total attendance figure, if not a bit less (thanks to London)

Day 2: 28,000
Wakefield vs Castleford
Huddersfield vs Bradford
Warrington vs St Helens


Again, at their respective venues, it would have attracted just under that figure as a total...

Again, I know my idea isn't perfect, but as a fan I like a double-header, but find 3 or matches to be a bit too much in a row... I think it will hugely benefit the Championship sides, not so much the SL sides...

 

[Evil Homer]

It makes a profit because the host city pays the RFL upwards of a million pounds to host the event. Like I said, the criticisms you're making are similar to those that are often made by British fans who haven't ever been to the Magic Weeekend and don't properly understand the concept. It works, trust me.

As for the idea of hosting matches at Championship stadiums, it's a complete non-starter. Again, I can understand why you might think this would be a good idea on paper, but in reality the best comparison I could think for Australian fans would be like Parramatta hosting a game at Newtown's ground, or Penrith hosting a match at Windsor Wolves. Just a pointless waste of time. If anything, a weekend of 'on the road' SL games with double headers in major cities like Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester etc would be the alternative to the Magic Weekend. But, like I said, the Magic Weekend is a really great event as is and shouldn't even be considered to be replaced. In fact they're bringing in a Magic Weekend for the Championship clubs next year.

 

[roughyedspud]

I've never been convinced by the Magic weekend concept. I think three games in a row is too much. When it was in Cardiff, I could see the logic in holding an event like that in a 'non-League' area, but now at Manchester, that's no longer a factor...

Here's an idea I had. Way back when, teams had to play one home match per season 'on the road', right? To try and promote the game across the country. My idea is a combination of that and the Magic weekend.

Basically, there would be one round a season where a Super League team plays their match at the stadium of a Championship side. It would be a double-header, the Championship fixture first, then the SL fixture. Based on the teams that are in both divisions this season, how do you think these fixtures would go? (Stadium capacity in brackets)

Doncaster vs Sheffield / Castleford vs Leeds (15,231)
Halifax vs Swinton / Hull vs Wakefield (14,061)
Leigh vs Rochdale / London vs Warrington (11,000)
Crusaders vs Barrow / Warrington vs Salford (10,771)
Batley vs Dewsbury / Huddersfield vs Hull KR (7,500)
Featherstone vs Keighley / Bradford vs Catalans (6,750)
Whitehaven vs Workington / St Helens vs Widnes (7,500)


What do you think? Would it boost the Championship and its teams? or just a(nother) waste of time? ;-)

i like the idea...but not to replace magic

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Get rid of the M Weekend, have the C Cup Final in April instead.