The Magic Weekend (known as the Betfred Magic Weekend for sponsorship reasons) is an annual event organised by the Rugby Football League in which an entire round of Super League matches is played over a weekend at a single stadium to promote the sport of rugby league.[1]
The event took place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2007 and 2008, and again in 2011. Subsequent events have taken place at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, from 2009 to 2010,[2] the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, from 2012 to 2014,[3] St James' Park, Newcastle, from 2015 to 2018, and again from 2021 to 2023, and Anfield, Liverpool in 2019.[4] Elland Road in Leeds hosted it for the first time in the 2024 season.
Having established itself on the English rugby league calendar, the Magic Weekend formula has now been copied in other rugby league-playing nations: starting in France in 2017,[5] and then in Australia, with the Magic Round in 2019.
History
edit
2007–2008: Cardiff
editThe first Millennium Magic round was confirmed in September 2006 for the weekend of 5–6 May 2007.[6][7] Richard Lewis, chairman of the RFL, cited both expansion and monetary reasons for the move to Wales, but the plan also allowed the Super League to be reduced by one round (critics had stated that the players were put under too much strain over the season). The event was funded and promoted by the Welsh Tourist Board, who were looking to build on the Challenge Cup finals which had taken place in Cardiff between 2003 and 2005 due to the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium. After the success of the first Millennium Magic in 2007, it became an annual fixture in the Super League calendar.
Three Super League XII fixtures took place on Saturday 5 May 2007, and a further three on Sunday 6 May 2007. The games played were, where possible, 'local derby' matches in an attempt to maximise interest in the event. The two 'non-heartland' clubs in Super League at that time, Catalans Dragons (France) and Harlequins RL (London), were paired against each other. The teams would face their Millennium Magic derby opponents four times during the Super League XII season.
Celtic Crusaders opened the weekend against Oldham R.L.F.C. in a National League Two game on the Friday night (4 May) at Brewery Field, Bridgend. This match officially celebrated 100 years of club rugby league in Wales as Oldham were the first ever opponents to Merthyr Tydfil in the first professional game in Wales on 7 September 1907. In an eventful match, Oldham came back from 26-6 down to win 34–26 in front of 3,441 fans, a record attendance for a National League 2 match. It was also the first National League 2 game shown live on British television, covered by Sky Sports.
A 58,831 aggregate crowd saw the Magic event at the Millennium Stadium.[8] Super League clubs agreed to repeat the event during the following season with Nigel Wood, the RFL's chief operating officer, saying: "The clubs and fans thoroughly enjoyed the day and our aim is to make next year's event even bigger and better."[8]
As in 2007, three Super League XIII fixtures took place on the Saturday (3 May) and a further three on the Sunday (4 May).
The event again kicked off with the local south Wales team, Celtic Crusaders, but this time they were up against Featherstone Rovers at the Brewery Field, Bridgend in a National League 1 match. The Crusaders won the match by 28-point to 18. The match was held in front of a club record crowd of 6,152.[9]
2009–2010: Edinburgh
edit
It was confirmed after the 2008 event that the weekend was to be moved in 2009 to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. The event included matches based on a seeded draw, using finishing positions from Super League XIII.[10][11]
The 2010 Magic weekend took place on 1–2 May 2010 at Murrayfield. After fan criticism of the seeded draw, The RFL decided to ask all 14 Super League clubs whether they would like to revert to derbies. The result favored a seeding again where the top 8 teams faced each other, and the bottom six would play each other.
2011: Return to Cardiff
editThe Magic Weekend returned to its original location at the Millennium Stadium, and it saw the opening round of the 2011 Super League season on the weekend of 12–13 February 2011.[12] The event also returned to the original format with the majority of the games being local rivalry games.[13]
2012–2014: Manchester
edit
The 2012 event was held at the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club,[14] and was the first time the Magic Weekend was held in England.
The date of the Magic Weekend was changed for 2012, reverting to a mid-season game week rather than as a season opener like 2011. However, unlike the first four Magic Weekends, the matches were played over a weekend at the end of May (after the end of the football season[15]) rather than during the May Day bank holiday weekend at the start of May. Although the last weekend of May is usually the Late Spring Bank Holiday weekend, the Spring bank holiday in 2012 was moved back a weekend as part of the Diamond Jubilee.[16]
Following the premise of previous Magic Weekends, the majority of the fixtures were local rivalry games.[17] 2012 was the first time that Widnes Vikings participated in the Magic Weekend.[18] The aggregate attendance of the weekend was 63,716 (the largest ever).
The 2013 Magic Weekend was once again held at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May.[19]
As in 2012, the 2013 Magic Weekend took place after the end of the football season in May, on the late Spring bank holiday weekend.
As in previous years, some of the matches were local rivalries with Castleford playing Wakefield Trinity and Hull F.C. Hull Kingston Rovers, both repeat fixtures from 2012. The other four matches were new fixtures for the Magic Weekend and included St. Helens playing Warrington and Bradford vs Huddersfield, continuing the tradition of having local rivalry matches at the Magic Weekend.
On 31 May 2013, less than a week after the 2013 Magic Weekend, the RFL announced that the Magic Weekend would once again return to the Etihad Stadium, Manchester for 2014, with matches being played on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May.[20]
On 23 January 2014, the fixtures were announced with, in a repeat of the 2013 fixtures, four matches set to take place on the Saturday with the remaining three scheduled for Sunday, including four local derbies (Huddersfield-Bradford, Hull Kingston Rovers-Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity-Castleford and Warrington-St Helens R.F.C.) plus the meeting of the last two winners of the Super League Grand Final, Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos. The other matches consisted of Widnes vs Salford and London vs Catalans Dragons.
Controversy was created in the city of Hull following the announcement that the 2014 FA Cup Final was to take place at exactly the same time and date as the fixture between Hull FC and Hull KR, this being the first FA Cup final Hull City had qualified for. The RFL announced on 15 April 2014 that they would not be changing the fixture.[21]
The aggregate attendance of 64,552 was the highest ever for a Magic Weekend, while the Saturday attendance of 36,339 was the highest ever single-day figure until both records were surpassed the consequent year in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
2015–2018: Newcastle
editIn 2015, the Magic Weekend was forced to move due to construction at the Etihad Stadium, which would commence immediately after the 2014–15 Premier League season had concluded, which meant the Magic Weekend was due to be changed, with Coventry's Ricoh Arena and Newcastle upon Tyne's St James' Park being considered by the RFL. Blake Solly had confirmed that the Etihad and Super League did have a good partnership, but there were alternatives available to host the event.[22] On 10 September 2014, it was confirmed that the Magic Weekend had been awarded to Newcastle for 2015, and would be played 30 and 31 May 2015. With the Super League Reformatting in 2015, the Magic Weekend featured twelve teams and six matches, as opposed to the seven games in previous years.
The event was considered the most successful to date, with a record aggregate attendance of 67,788, a record single-day crowd of 40,871 on the Saturday and an estimated benefit of £4.2 million to the Newcastle economy.[23]
After a successful event in Newcastle in 2015, the Magic Weekend returned to St James' Park for the second year running with most fixtures being based upon last season's league standings rather than local derbies. The top four from last season play each other; Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors and St. Helens v Huddersfield Giants. Continuing with this trend, 5th placed Castleford Tigers play 6th placed Warrington Wolves and the two teams in the bottom four last season, Widnes Vikings and Salford Red Devils, play in a repeat of last year's fixture. Last season's bottom placed Wakefield Trinity Wildcats play Catalans Dragons: as the Dragons struggle away from home, this fixture is to give both teams a chance of winning. The only derby this year is the Hull Derby at the end of the weekend.
For the third consecutive season, Magic Weekend returned to Newcastle. This is the Leigh Centurions' first time playing at the Magic Weekend. This is because Magic Weekend first made an appearance in 2007, two seasons after Leigh's relegation.
For a fourth year in succession, Magic Weekend took place in Newcastle. As a curtain raiser, the first game to be played on the first day was a Championship fixture between Toronto Wolfpack and Toulouse Olympique.[24]
2019: Liverpool
edit
Anfield was chosen as the venue for the 2019 Magic Weekend after two test matches were played there in 2016 and 2018. After previously choosing games that were local derbies or competitive games, in 2019 the fixtures were determined by the previous season's league position.
Robert Elstone, Super League Chief Executive, said "On behalf of the Super League clubs, we’re delighted to be taking the Dacia Magic Weekend to one of the most famous stadiums in the world.[25]
2020: Cancelled
editThe 2020 event was due to return to Newcastle's St James' Park, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to wider implications for the 2020 season.
2021–2023: Return to Newcastle
editThe Super League's Magic Weekend saw a belated return to Newcastle for the 2021 season. Fixtures for the event were announced on 23 February with matches scheduled to be played during the weekend of 4–5 September.
The Super League's Magic Weekend stayed in Newcastle, for the 2022 season. Fixtures for the event were announced on 23 February with matches played during the weekend of 9–10 July.
2024: Leeds
editIn November 2023, Super League confirmed Magic Weekend would take place at Elland Road in Leeds for the 2024 Super League season.[26] Despite a poor public appetite for the 2024 event to be held at Elland Road, which resulted in the second lowest attendance since the event began, Magic Weekend 2024 was one of the more profitable editions of the event, which The Guardian attributed to the location being closer to participating clubs and the RFL headquarters.[27] Rugby League Commercial (the RFL's marketing branch) labelled the weekend a success having beat the target attendance of 50,000, and stating that the previous target of 60,000 when at St James's Park was not unrealistic.[28]
2025: Return to Newcastle
editFollowing the RFL partnership with IMG there were rumours that Magic Weekend would be scrapped for 2025 with it being known the IMG advising the RFL to remove loop fixtures from Super League which would include Magic Weekend. Ahead of Magic 2024, RL Commercial (the RFL's marketing branch) chief confirmed that while IMG and the RFL were looking to scrap loop fixtures, Magic Weekend would remain in the calendar.[29]
Following the 2024 event, The Guardian stated that the RFL were considering a return to Newcastle, along with Nottingham, Dublin, and Cardiff as venues for Magic 2025.[27][30]
Venues
edit| City | Stadium | Count | Years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Newcastle |
St James' Park | 7 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 (cancelled), 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 2 |  Cardiff |
Millennium Stadium | 3 | 2007, 2008, 2011 |
| Manchester |
Etihad Stadium | 2012, 2013, 2014 | ||
| 3 |  Edinburgh |
Murrayfield | 2 | 2009, 2010 |
| 4 | Liverpool |
Anfield | 1 | 2019 |
| Leeds |
Elland Road | 2024 |
Attendances
edit| Year | City | Stadium | Day 1 Attendance | Day 2 Attendance | Weekend attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cardiff
|
Millennium Stadium | 32,384 | 26,447 | 58,831 |
| 2008 | 32,516 | 30,628 |  63,144
| ||
| 2009 | Edinburgh
|
Murrayfield | 30,122 | 29,627 |  59,749
|
| 2010 | 26,642 | 25,401 | 52,043
| ||
| 2011 | Cardiff
|
Millennium Stadium | 30,891 | 29,323 | 60,214
|
| 2012 | Manchester
|
Etihad Stadium | 32,953 | 30,763 | 63,716
|
| 2013 | 31,249 | 30,793 | 62,042
| ||
| 2014 | 36,339 | 28,213 | 64,552
| ||
| 2015 | Newcastle
|
St James' Park | 40,871 | 26,970 | 67,841
|
| 2016 | 39,331 | 28,945 | 68,276
| ||
| 2017 | 35,361 | 30,046 | 65,407
| ||
| 2018 | 38,881 | 25,438 | 64,319
| ||
| 2019 | Liverpool
|
Anfield | 30,057 | 26,812 | 56,869
|
| 2020 | Newcastle
|
St James' Park | Cancelled | ||
| 2021 | 35,104 | 25,762 | 60,866
| ||
| 2022 | 36,821 | 25,333 | 62,154
| ||
| 2023 | 36,943 | 26,369 | 63,312
| ||
| 2024 | Leeds
|
Elland Road | 30,810 | 22,293 | 53,103
|
| 2025 | Newcastle
|
St James' Park |
Highest weekend attendance
edit| Year | City | Stadium | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016 | Newcastle |
St James' Park | 68,276 |
| 2 | 2015 | Newcastle |
St James' Park | 67,841 |
| 3 | 2017 | Newcastle |
St James' Park | 65,407 |
Sponsorship
edit| Sponsor | Years | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Dacia | 2016–2021 | Dacia Magic Weekend |
| Sky | 2022 | Magic Weekend sponsored by Sky |
| Betfred | 2023 | Betfred Magic Weekend |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Super League, 15 July 2008
- ^ "Magic Weekend heads to Murrayfield" Archived 2 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Super League, August 2008
- ^ "RFL Hails Millennium Magic A Success" Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Rugby Football League, May 2007
- ^ "Thanks for the most successful Magic Weekend". www.rugby-league.com.
- ^ "Magique Week-End de retour!". 25 February 2019.
- ^ Super League. Super League. (16 August 2013). Retrieved 2013-08-20.
- ^ "Super League could head for Wales". BBC News. 4 July 2006.
- ^ a b BBC Sport (21 June 2007). "New salary cap for Super League". BBC. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ "Second-half blitz too much for brave Fev". Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
- ^ "Magic Weekend On The Move", BBC News, July 2008
- ^ "Super League pulls plug on Cardiff", The Independent, July 2008
- ^ "Millennium Magic to start season". 13 August 2010 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Millennium Magic Weekend | 12-13 February 2011 | Engage Super League. Bigcardiff.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
- ^ "Manchester City's Etihad Stadium to host Magic Weekend". BBC. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "Magic Weekend comes to Etihad Stadium". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "New bank holiday for Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012". BBC News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Magic". Super League. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Harrison Drawn in By Magic Atmosphere". Warrington Wolves. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Tickets for The Magic Weekend 2013 now on sale Archived 13 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Superleague.co.uk (4 December 2012). Retrieved 2013-08-20.
- ^ "Magic Weekend returns to Etihad Stadium in 2014". Super League. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 23 November 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ "Hull KR v Hull FC Magic Weekend game will not be moved". BBC Sport. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ "Super League waits to discover if Magic Weekend can return to Manchester in 2015". Sky Sports.
- ^ Marsh, Michael (5 June 2015). "Magic Weekend: Supporters make Newcastle sparkle as benefit to city is revealed".
- ^ "Super League Magic Weekend: Toronto Wolfpack and Toulouse Olympique XIII to open event". BBC Sport. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ rugby league. "Magic Weekend heads to Liverpool". rugby league.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^ https://www.skysports.com/amp/rugby-league/news/12196/13012281/super-league-magic-weekend-returns-for-2024-at-leeds-uniteds-elland-road-full-fixtures-revealed [bare URL]
- ^ a b Bower, Aaron. "Elland Road's Magic Weekend falls flat but profit margins offer hope for future". The Guardian.
- ^ "RL Commercial chief labels Elland Road experiment a 'success' despite grim attendance record". 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Major Magic Weekend update for 2025 as IMG stance on event revealed". 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Magic Weekend could head to Nottingham as three new venues mooted". 18 August 2024.
External links
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