: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:16 pm  

[quote="saints35 bulls0"]this is an extra game, if it wasnt happening the clubs wouldnt be getting any money from anywhere - they still have to pay employees throughout the year (I dont expect the kit man gets paid extra for turning up to work, even if he does have to go to Scotland).

SKY and other sponsors put a lot of money into the game because of this, Edinburgh is putting money into the game because of this...this is money that wouldnt be in the sport without this weekend.

Development in places like Cumbria is funded through ventures like these. Where do you think the money for the free challenge cup tickets for the game you attended in Barrow came from? It didnt come from within Cumbrian RL. Without that scheme there would probably have been about 3000 there.[/quote]


Edinburgh is putting money in as it expects to get a return on its investments - not out of charity - Dont you think Cardiff would have fought harder to keep the event if it was such a cash cow-

Development in cumbria is not funded from this as any money from this weekend is for Superleague - that was a direct answer from an RFL official- the free ticket scheme for the CC didnt apply to NL clubs - not in round 4 anyway Barrow didnt give tickets away to their own fans and they could have sold more comfortably.

and on your point of if it wasnt happening- then 7 of the clubs would be at home raising their own cash - as it is many of them are going to be with a home superleague match for 4 weeks - some will get a bit from their cup ties but a month without direct matchday income during the season is not good for any club

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:24 pm  

philipk wrote:

I'd be surprised if if the RFL make as much as you perhaps think and the return for the clubs has been minimal given the amount of pressure theyre put under - and thats a direct quote to me from a Superleague club vice chairman.

They'll make even less if people are put off going by the players.

This event needs time to grow. It makes money already, it could make LOTS of money if given a chance to develop.

RL is not wealthy enough to dismiss such opportunities - the RFL are making money and playing games out of the heartlands, win win.

philipk wrote:

and do tell us what is wrong with spending money on RL in Cumbria!!!! - i went to the recent Barrow v Wigan Cup tie - tremendous day out with great passion on display from all concerned - well worth investing in i would say

Absolutely nothing - but to say the RFL are spending money on the Magic Weekend that could be spent on Cumbrian RL is, quite frankly, ludicrous.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:29 pm  

Mrs Bridge wrote:

I never heard anything so stupid or narrow minded in my life, then again I avoid talking to Stains fans as much as possible as they normally come out with this kind of drivel!!!

I can confidently say that you will find more Wire fans at either a CC Final or Grand Final that they weren't involved in that you would Saints fans if they weren't involved. Warrington fans are appreciative of good rugby league, you lot are only interested if you've got somethig to brag about, if your silverware dries up so will your attendances!!

I agree, wire take around 15 fans to each cup final, and if ( IF ) saints were to ever not make it into a final, I would say we would only take aroudn 13 or 14 fans. So i agree with you.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:56 pm  

Quite honestly, I couldn't give a flying feck what James Graham thinks. For me it is the highlight of the season. All the Rugby League teams congregate together to create a good atmosphere. It may not be a Cup Final, but for the smaller clubs it is, and for that reason it creates a great buzz. 7 Rugby games in one weekend on the TV - Superb! To be there, it's even better.

I cannot wait for Saturday, this is my Christmas.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:18 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

Quite honestly, I couldn't give a flying feck what James Graham thinks. For me it is the highlight of the season. All the Rugby League teams congregate together to create a good atmosphere. It may not be a Cup Final, but for the smaller clubs it is, and for that reason it creates a great buzz. 7 Rugby games in one weekend on the TV - Superb! To be there, it's even better.

I cannot wait for Saturday, this is my Christmas.

You need to get out more.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:24 pm  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

You need to get out more.

I am. I'm going Edinburgh this weekend dontcha know!

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:47 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

They'll make even less if people are put off going by the players.
This event needs time to grow. It makes money already, it could make LOTS of money if given a chance to develop.

Totally agree, which is why moving it away from Cardiff was a c0ck up of epic proportions.

The local contingent was growing (decent following on both days from Celtic fans, even before the SL licence was awarded if I recall), it was superbly placed for RL fans to share a few beers and a bit of banter.


Edinburgh means beer tents outside the ground. Meh.

We should have kept the CC in Cardiff, but understand the commitment to Wembley.

There's no excuse for moving the Magic weekend though, and I'd be very surprised if attendances this weekend didn't back that up.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:03 pm  

Cragganmore Kid wrote:

Totally agree, which is why moving it away from Cardiff was a c0ck up of epic proportions.

The local contingent was growing (decent following on both days from Celtic fans, even before the SL licence was awarded if I recall), it was superbly placed for RL fans to share a few beers and a bit of banter.


Edinburgh means beer tents outside the ground. Meh.

We should have kept the CC in Cardiff, but understand the commitment to Wembley.

There's no excuse for moving the Magic weekend though, and I'd be very surprised if attendances this weekend didn't back that up.

Edinburgh is a far nicer city IMO, and Cardiff after two years of exactly the same thing was feeling a little stale. I think this event possibly needs to be rotated on a two year basis. Maybe back to Cardiff in a couple of years.

The stadium is less that 2.5m from the city centre, so a quick bus journey gets you into all the pubs and restaurants. I certanly don't see it as a 'c0ck up of epic proportions'.

I wouldn't have bothered going to Cardiff again, whereas I am really excited about this weekend.

: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:15 pm  

Dave T wrote:

Edinburgh is a far nicer city IMO, and Cardiff after two years of exactly the same thing was feeling a little stale. I think this event possibly needs to be rotated on a two year basis. Maybe back to Cardiff in a couple of years.

The stadium is less that 2.5m from the city centre, so a quick bus journey gets you into all the pubs and restaurants. I certanly don't see it as a 'c0ck up of epic proportions'.

I wouldn't have bothered going to Cardiff again, whereas I am really excited about this weekend.

In Cardiff, Game A finishes and there's time for a quick scoot to a pub to share a couple of beers with a great crowd. Back in time for the majority of Game B. If the second half isn't so great, shoot out again for a mingle, before Game C.

At Murrayfield? Forget it, when you're in your in.

They moved it from Cardiff just as it was starting to take root, both for travelling fans and more importantly local fans. There's a huge potential for RL in South Wales and if you've been to one of these weekends, or one of the CC finals there, it's hard to ignore. It's epitomised by a local bloke offering to buy the Saints shirt off my back (clearly, the internet hasn't made the Valleys yet!) but there needs to be some stability to allow the event to develop.

We could move it every two years - Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dublin, Barcelona, Birmingham etc etc. It would hardly register an interest locally.

Or we could give it a home, and build on the foundations already laid in Cardiff.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:01 am  

Saint Simon wrote:

Don't hold back son
He has a point though, travelling to scotland to watch a normal league match is a big ask.
I like it myself, but as its a bank holiday weekend i would have prefered it to be played on Sunday/Monday as saturday is a normal work day for me.

i thought he was trying to say we play to many games over Easter and the maybe instead of the Magic weekend we should play an international and he has a very good point.
Maybe it was not his place to make the comments but you have to admire the lad for speaking out and saying what lots of other players are thinking.
However the magic weekend is a big game for lots of clubs a nice weekend away for the fans as well.
I understand why its been taken to Scotland the RFL say its because they want to expand the game to Scotland but the real reason is the Scottish government are subsidizing it quite a lot and thats the main reason.