What next for Magic Weekend? Will we see it in Super League's 2024 schedule?
Rugby League Commercial Managing Director Rhodri Jones speaks to Sky Sports to discuss the future of Super League's Magic Weekend; no decision yet on whether the Magic Weekend concept will continue into 2024
Monday 5 June 2023 07:46, UK
Magic Weekend could yet make an appearance on the 2024 Super League calendar, the head of Rugby League Commercial has told Sky Sports.
There has been a lot of speculation as to whether the event will continue to be a mainstay in the schedule following strategic partner IMG's recommendations that it be scrapped.
This weekend's event was the sixth-most attended since it's inception with a total of 63,269 fans flocking to the event across the two days, an increase of just over one thousand on last year's cumulative attendance.
- Magic Weekend: Day 2 as it happened
- Wakefield Trinity 4-30 Leigh Leopards
- St Helens 48-6 Huddersfield Giants
With the fans "voting with their feet", Managing Director of RL Commercial, Rhodri Jones, discussed the future of Super League's mid-season event with Sky Sports and would not rule out incorporating the event into a revamped calendar.
However, if it is to stay, it must fit into a realigned calendar that has the Challenge Cup moved to a later date in the year - potentially pushing Magic Weekend back to August or September.
With such dates coinciding with the start of the Premier League season, it could rule out a raft of venues that have hosted the event in the past - including the 2023 venue St James' Park and the Etihad Stadium.
"As part of IMG's recommendations, our strategic partner, they came up with the recommendation that we need flow and peak in the calendar," said Jones.
"As part of that, we were going to look at the format and the dates around the Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup is likely to shift later into the year and therefore we have to look at alternative dates for the Magic Weekend.
"Secondly, we have to look a availability of venues. This club for an example, we could be looking at the start of the football season or the middle of the football season.
"There is a lot to look at and it is not just about Magic itself, it is about the calendar as a whole and trying to create a calendar that provides narrative throughout the season.
"There is appetite but we have to do what we normally do in post-event analysis and financial analysis."
Despite potential logistical challenges, Jones admitted there is "appetite" for the concept amongst clubs and fans that could strongly improve the chances of it continuing.
"We have to make sure it works for Rugby League Commercial and also the Super League clubs," he added.
"But you can't doubt the success of this weekend which puts in good consideration for next year.
"The fans have voted with their feet which been fantastic."
