Where now for Millennium Magic?

Fri 09 May 2008

When an event can draw 63,144 spectators, albeit over two days, you have to say that the signs are that it has a long-term future. The Millennium Magic certainly lacked some of the drama that was so apparent last season, and some teams should feel very disappointed with their performance in 2008. But, as always, the important people are the supporters. And those who travelled to Cardiff were undoubtedly very happy with the event, to judge by the reaction I've seen, although some of them, including Wigan fans in particular, were hardly happy with their team's contribution to the weekend. But the fans will travel again in 2009, regardless of where the weekend tournament is held next year.

And that looks like being the debate. The next 'Magic' weekend next season may well go to Murrayfield in Edinburgh, although you can expect a strong rearguard action from the Welsh authorities to keep the event in Cardiff. After all, who would want to lose the business that more than 60,000 Rugby League supporters can bring to a city?
Of course Murrayfield was the venue for the Challenge Cup Finals in 2000 and 2002, and it's fair to say that Rugby League supporters thoroughly enjoyed their trips to the Scottish capital during those two years. The pubs are as good as in Cardiff, and, crucially, there are more hotels and guest houses in and around the Scottish capital.
Murrayfield as a stadium hardly compares with the Millennium Stadium, however, although the kind of attendance we are talking about would probably make Murrayfield look fuller than the Millennium Stadium.
The wonderful thing, however, from the RFL's point of view is that more than one city should be battling to stage the event.
Rather like when more than one television company wants to broadcast your matches, you gain economic power when you are being chased by more than one group of city authorities.
The one disappointment for me about Millennium Magic last weekend was that the quality of the rugby played was not as high as it is on most Super League weekends, partly due to the slippiness of the pitch under the closed roof. But the fact that supporters from all twelve Super League clubs could come together in one city to talk about Rugby League was the real joy of the event. And, as far as we are aware, there was not one arrest for bad behaviour by any Rugby League supporters in Cardiff or its environs over the weekend.
As one steward said to one of our reporters at the weekend, "We love having you here".
The feeling, surely, was mutual.

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