Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 12:01 am  

lister wrote:

30,763 for Saturday and 32,953 today, a highest total for a Magic Weekend.

I do feel it could grow as an event in Manchester if they stick with it. Now that people have been word of mouth will get around, plus they've never put together any deals on travel and hotels for the event, which would help boost attendance.

I missed having a weekend away, however on the other hand I like that it's so near.

hull fc had a deal for supporters with travel, ticket and hotel accomodation for the weekend

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 12:09 am  

Just got in from manchester. Last train back to London!

Great weekend and I like the ground. Disappointed that so many fans only watch their team play, have fantastic weather so why not at least see a couple of games?

Wigan were brilliant, great atmosphere and I never saw one bit of trouble.

Now as for the attendance, I dont think 63k that high. It is in the heartlands and we still couldn't get 70k. RL Fans need to do better!!

Oh and another moan here. Why do we never get any decent merchandise stalls at big RL events? Outside the Etihad it was Eddie Stobart crap all over the place. People were queuing up for pics with the drivers!

WTF!!

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 7:19 am  

Had a great day yesterday but disappointed with the attendence figures. Is it really that much better than when the even was in cardiff?

I was hoping for an 75 - 80k average total considering how close it is to the heartlands clubs.

co-sign regarding the lack of merchandise stalls. There are 30k+ rugby league fans walking around yet nowhere you can purchase RL merchandise. Absurd!!!

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 7:25 am  

the artist wrote:

30 odd thousand looks better in a stadium which holds 47000, rather than a stadium which holds 70000 - 80000, as is the case in scotland and wales

There were probably never that many more than 20-25,000 in the stadium at any one time. I think the idea of moving the event around is fine, but not in the 70,000+ stadia. Ideally its better suited to a 40,000 capacity stadium but it also needs to have some facilities around the ground to cater for those fans that don't want to spend all day in the ground.

Like it or not the majority of fans will only watch their own team and perhaps one other game, or parts of a couple of games.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 8:25 am  

Played at the right venues (Catalan instead of London for example), that round of fixtures should be able to top 100k attendance. Surely the point of the Magic Weekend was to attract new supporters, not just provide a venue for half the people who would have gone to the games anyway to meet up?
If Saracens with a 7k ish average crowd can get 60k+ to Wembley, surely we could fill this ground for just Wigan Saints? Add 30k+ for Leeds Bradford at Elland Road, 20k for Cas / Wakey at Huddersfield and that's the start of a REAL Magic Weekend for the game.
I'd like to see the Magic back to Cardiff, perhaps with an International 9s tournament (featuring individual Super League teams, Championship rep teams, rep teams from Aus and NZ, plus new nations getting a taste of the big time) culminating in the World Challenge.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 8:54 am  

We've been to ever one and have enjoyed every one (despite the result yesterday).

I wonder how many people actually went. If 30,000 went one day and 33,000 the next, is it the same 30,000 plus another 3,000 going, so in effect only 33,000 went?

Great venue yesterday and was allowed to take in soft drinks/water and a picnic so from that point of view was better than Cardiff when I had a bottle of water taken away at the gates.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 9:22 am  

Pal of Mine wrote:

I wonder how many people actually went. If 30,000 went one day and 33,000 the next, is it the same 30,000 plus another 3,000 going, so in effect only 33,000 went?

I think that would have certainly been the case for the events in Cardiff and Edinburgh, but I suspect there would have been a greater turnover of fans this year, particularly given the huge difference in tickets sold for the day and weekend.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 9:59 am  

They got it right, this year in my opinion, which I'm sure was helped a little by the glorious weather.

We had a top day yesterday, the venue was great, the atmosphere in Manchester City Centre was fabulous, and the activity around the stadium itself was really good.

The problem, I felt, with previous Magic Weekends was that it was the expense and hassle of yet another weekend away to add to the trips we already make to Catalans, Wembley and London Broncos. It just gets too expensive. As a day trip, however, yesterday was a damn near perfect as you'll get.

I've also been saying that, as a concept, Magic Weekend needs to be relatively local so it can grow. If it's a success, and the economy improves, then by all means take it on the road. As it stands though, keep it in Manchester.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 10:05 am  

nkpom wrote:

20k for Cas / Wakey at Huddersfield

That would be utterly ridiculous moving that game to someone elses ground when that could be played at Elland Road too if you really want to have a pointless extra game on the road.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 10:25 am  

J O N N Y wrote:

I think you sum RL up in a sentence, glass half empty outlook, stick to what we've got approach to the sport.

Manchester as a population hasnt taken notice of RL to any great degree previously. There are now amateur teams being established across the city improving access to the sport, Salford have just moved into a new purpose built stadium 6 months ago, footballers from both Manchester teams regularly follow and talk about RL and the RFL has just moved into MediaCity. There are loads of new reasons to showcase Rugby League to the Manchester public, so why not try again?

Over 100 years and we still can't get Manchester interested is what it is mate, no wonder other sports laugh at us if we think Manchester is a development area.