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Magic Weekend: Etihad Stadium to host event until 2014
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 number 37.
joshua16th November 2012 - 20:12
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.
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Comment number 36.
Ange16th November 2012 - 14:43
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.
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Comment number 35.
BC16th November 2012 - 11:57
Wait a go RFL for preaching to the converted, yet again! Nothing like spreading the game.... to Manchester! Could at least try! There must be some really good brain storming sessions going on at RFL HQ to come up with this brilliant idea! Cardiff was very successful, Edinburgh nearly was, it had potential though with the right marketing! And in a world cup year? Spread the game!
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Comment number 34.
Steve16th November 2012 - 0:03
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.
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Comment number 33.
sporting know it all15th November 2012 - 22:34
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?
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