Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 7:04 pm  

Famous wrote:

One thing puzzles me about this Magic weekend. Why is it being regarded as such a success compared to previous ones? It was slapbang in the middle of the heartlands, we had absolutely fantastic whether and some great games but it was only marginally better attended than previous ones. Why is this one was then a success, despite having so many more advantages, than the ones that had gone before it?

Because sports marketing (especially when Sky are involved) is all about hype.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 7:06 pm  

Chief Stinkwort wrote:

Because sports marketing (especially when Sky are involved) is all about hype.

I appreciate that and that is something that RL has always suffered from, or lack of it to be precise. However why has this one been hyped up and not the others?

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 7:10 pm  

Famous wrote:

One thing puzzles me about this Magic weekend. Why is it being regarded as such a success compared to previous ones? It was slapbang in the middle of the heartlands, we had absolutely fantastic whether and some great games but it was only marginally better attended than previous ones. Why is this one was then a success, despite having so many more advantages, than the ones that had gone before it?

In fairness the RFL will know exactly how many different people bought tickets so maybe that's how they're gauging success whereas at Cardiff and Edinburgh it may have largely been the same people attending both days?

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 7:23 pm  

Absolutely loved yesterday. think the weather really helped, but i think the Stadium having it's own area really helped create a carnival atmosphere.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 8:04 pm  

Where was Silverwood this weekend?

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 9:03 pm  

wire quin wrote:

Where was Silverwood this weekend?

Injured. Apparently he was supposed to be the ref of the Saints Wigan match but was replaced by Ben Thaler.

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 9:14 pm  

I went for the full weekend, and watched at least part of every game, missed the second half of Cas Wakey to go for a walk and we didn't get there in time for the first half of London Catalans.

I really enjoyed the whole weekend (apart from the last 10 minutes of our game), and think Manchester is probably the best location for it, especially if it's not going to be on a bank holiday.

With the Grand Final being at Old Trafford, if we keep the Magic Weekend at the Etihad then it gives RL and good base in a major city for two of our big 3 club events, which can be built on.

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

I had a great Sunday, barring breaking a toe, and splitting my jeans on the 'activities', no complaints there though, they are great.
The weather was amazing, and Sun, Beer and Rugby with your mates, what more can you ask for? To an extent, all the games excl. Saints were great, even the Catalans game was close up to the last 25 mins.

I think mixing it up would be a difference.
I think the attendance would drive much higher if they had 'equal' games. I'm not just harping on about this because I'm a Saints fan, in the opening 2 magic weekends, we were better than Wigan.

I'd be having.

London Vs. Widnes
Catalans Vs. Huddersfield
St. Helens Vs. Leeds
Wigan Vs. Warrington

Cas Vs. Wakefield
Salford Vs. Bradford
Hull Vs. Hull KR

Or 1-2 3-4 so on, but don't announce it until the week before, adds to the drama as every game will be interesting, from todays table every game is close and would certainly be entertaining, maybe Hull KR-Leeds less so, but both take a big following so good atmosphere at least.
They need to get the fans to the ground for me, the opening games were dead. Having a 'bigger' game on first would attract more fans, get them to stay around the ground longer

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 10:29 pm  

Goochie wrote:

With the Grand Final being at Old Trafford, if we keep the Magic Weekend at the Etihad then it gives RL and good base in a major city for two of our big 3 club events, which can be built on.

So what was started to be about spreading the RL gospel, is now about an extra game that the players and clubs could probably do without. Pretty much most of the country north of Middlesborough and south of Sheffield have always looked at RL as being that game played along the M62 and now Wembley for the CC Final is the only time the game will take an event outside it's traditional heartlands.....

If it's not about taking the game to new audiences, I'd bin it and revert back to a 26 game season + Play-offs.....the season could do with be truncated as well......February is half as warm as March on average....and it's getting colder!

34 weeks between the start of March and the End of October.....the Exiles game can be played mid-week a la SoO....see how important it becomes with players pulling out all over the shop... 26 weeks regular season, 4 weeks play-offs and an end of season tour down under/or they come north.......

Re: The Magic Weekend : Mon May 28, 2012 11:07 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

So what was started to be about spreading the RL gospel, is now about an extra game that the players and clubs could probably do without. Pretty much most of the country north of Middlesborough and south of Sheffield have always looked at RL as being that game played along the M62 and now Wembley for the CC Final is the only time the game will take an event outside it's traditional heartlands.....

If it's not about taking the game to new audiences, I'd bin it and revert back to a 26 game season + Play-offs.....the season could do with be truncated as well......February is half as warm as March on average....and it's getting colder!

34 weeks between the start of March and the End of October.....the Exiles game can be played mid-week a la SoO....see how important it becomes with players pulling out all over the shop... 26 weeks regular season, 4 weeks play-offs and an end of season tour down under/or they come north.......

Even with it being in the heartlands, it can still be spreading the gospel.

During Wigan Saints yesterday I was sat next to two young Mancunian lads who'd never been to rugby before but won tickets from school and went along. They loved it, and were talking about going to watch Salford home games.

How much coverage did the Magic Weekend get, I'd say without a doubt more than a normal round of Super League, all weekend rugby league with the focus of a Sky Sports channel, that can't be a bad thing.

To improve attendances I think there need to be big incentives for clubs to sell tickets themselves as well as the RFL. I know Hull pushed it pretty hard, but how many other clubs did everything they could to sell it out? (serious question, not having a go here!)