Magic Weekend is rugby league's festival of fun, says Phil Clarke
Thursday 19 May 2016 12:18, UK
Modern-day sport is all about the event and Magic Weekend is rugby league's festival of fun, says Phil Clarke...
In all my life I've never met a person who doesn't like magic.
Whether it's something subtle like a slight of hand to deceive you or a more dramatic trick where someone moves from one place to another in a seemingly impossible manner, it grabs your attention, sucks you in and often leaves you wondering how it all happened.
This upcoming weekend in Super League has established itself in the rugby league calendar as the festival of fun. The action on the pitch is as serious as it gets but the atmosphere is what makes it so enjoyable. If you don't turn up in fancy dress you can feel like you haven't read the dress code on the invite but it still doesn't stop you from joining in the Super League summer party.
Modern-day sport is changing. In fact it's changed already. It's no longer about the match, it's all about the event.
The Magic Weekend in Super League is rugby league's opportunity to attract people who want to go to an open air party that is centred around serious sport.
Cricket probably led the way in reviving and reinventing the excitement of a sport by mixing the right combination of action and razzmatazz. Fans pay to see the spectacular. Great catches and amazing sixes are what get people out of their seats. The Big Bash in Australia and the excitement of the IPL in India are perhaps something for us to consider.
How do we make the event more exciting for the event-goer? It has to be fun, enjoyable and entertaining even if the game doesn't finish with a drop goal in the last minute.
The Magic Weekend in Super League is rugby league's opportunity to attract people who want to go to an open air party that is centred around serious sport. We need to smile, sport can be too serious at times.
If you're not able to make it up to Newcastle can I suggest that you get yourself stocked up with your favourite drinks and snacks from the supermarket and settle down to see six great games on Sky Sports. Just pace yourself with those snacks.
The players all know that this is a showcase event for them. It means more than just two points on the table. It can be a springboard to a new contract, perhaps even a new career at a new club. It feels like a final because it's at a football ground and it reminds us all of the Grand Final in October.
For some it's a Super League cul-dec-sac. Defeat here makes them realise that there is nowhere for them to go in 2016.
Probably the greatest magic trick I've ever seen was when the West Yorkshire magician, Dynamo, walked down a tower building in the States. He went from the top to the bottom in minutes, it seemed impossible.
This weekend offers a chance for two West Yorkshire teams to repeat that magic trick in reverse. Leeds and Huddersfield can both still make the Super 8s if they win all of their remaining games. If they can pull that trick off they'll probably get invited into The Magic Circle.
Whatever happens, enjoy the weekend.
Live Super League Magic Weekend
