Chilli Sauce

There are only really 3 ‘big’ teams (out of 10) pulling crowds of over 3500 - Belfast, Nottingham and Sheffield. The league average is about 3000ish. Some, such as Cardiff, may be limited by arena size - it’s much more difficult to expand capacity of a building.

Interesting one on the (relative) success of the Steelers in Sheffield. As a Sheffielder and former season ticket holder at the hockey I feel I can contribute here. Their huge success happened fairly quickly in terms of popularity. At the time they started tickets were cheap (or free) and engagement with schools etc was strong. In the early 90s it was seen as a fun, family friendly alternative to football - which for some still being tarnished in part by hooliganism and not somewhere to take the wife and kids. For those not hung up on football’s perceived issues at the time it was a place where blades and wednesdayites could socialise together on a night out. It also had the exotic appeal of something completely new and being next to a big American-style entertainment complex (restaurants, cinema, bowling), in a new state of the art facility. the Steelers at the moment are incredibly well run, but this hasn’t always been the case, crowds have dropped at times to around 3500/4000 and the club has had financial scares. But they are now embedded in the culture of the city - that’s the important bit. They have also been traditionally the Real Madrid/Bayern of British ice hockey and can reasonably be expected to attempt to win the league/cup/playoffs every year. If you think the RFL are bad they look like saints compared to the powers that be in British Ice Hockey, which in the ice hockey world is a bit of a joke and full of washed up Canadians having a jolly at the end of their career. The key difference I think is that ice hockey here is firmly ‘sport entertainment’ rather than sport in a serious sense. Kind of against the grain of this thread, as I’ve got on in life I’ve moved away from the ice hockey and am now way more invested in rugby league. The hockey is still a fun night out though and I’d recommend it, but for me league gives the serious sporting experience that British Ice Hockey has lacked for 3 decades now.

Very valid point! (and one that should have occurred to me )

Yep, this is the problem I can see. Infrequently used national stadia seem to be the only fallback? Think someone mentioned the Eithad earlier in this thread as a possibility? But if their surface is seen as at risk (with Champions League football permanently on the agenda there) I don’t know how keen they’d be. I can’t get around the absolute meltdowns that football clubs have about a real or imagined divot being created in their bowling greens. Aside from weather, isn’t that why all stadium gigs seem to be this time of year? Look how sound the surface still was at the end of Sunday, it’s no an issue, but that doesn’t stop people seeing it as a problem.

Thing is, I’m not sure they will (on the proviso it’s the single game in London). I think neutrals or non heartlands RL fans may be more likely to just try to stay over somewhere where they can weekend it in northern England to see a game Friday and Saturday. As I mentioned, I went to magic this year even though my own club had a home game that conflicted with it, because it was a massive draw for family, who live in RL wilderness. We wouldn’t have bothered for the hassle and faff of going to Wembley for one match, in what is now our second tier competition. For clarity, I love the prestige and history of the Cup, but it isn’t anything other than second fiddle to Superleague by some distance. That’s the draw of Magic Weekend… it’s an occasion and something unique, it’s value in giving multiple games in a short time in one place really hooks people, potentially newcomers to the sport.

I think as well the Magic Weekend offers something different, hence why some dislike but for others it offers something of value. if folk are just of a follow their club home and away persuasion I can understand how it can be seen as unneeded hassle. But for others it’s a big weekend that they really look forward to that is a festival of the sport and a real RL binge. I can’t see how an enhanced Challenge Cup or 9s will have the same draw for the latter group… but would be overjoyed to be proven wrong. Have been to the CC semi double headers in places like Bolton and it simply doesn’t have the same appeal or vibe to it. That seems to be more a go to game, go home type event, rather than the festival atmosphere of a full weekender.

I think it does attract more than just Superleague club support too… I normally support a Championship side, but will go to Magic even if we have a game on, as it’s a chance to have a weekend away with family who love the game, but are far away from any league club. I’ve spoken to people who aren’t RL aficionados, but have gone because it’s a quality weekend away. For that the venue and host city are of real importance.

For the avoidance of doubt… not classy establishments to watch rabbits be extracted from hats. On my return from Newcastle this weekend I’ve been trying to think of venues that could host late summer Magic (if the rumours swirling are true)… on the proviso that precious Premiership round ball carpets are off the table during their season. There actually aren’t that many in the U.K. & Ireland … club rugby (either code are all too small) are off the table. Only ones I can think are Hampden, Cardiff, national stadia in London and Dublin? Tottenham have their fancy two pitch set up for the NFL too. Of course we know that the game doesn’t do damage to surfaces in the way other sports do… but I’m not sure that’d wash. Any ideas? First post here too… I’m not looking for trouble, just a lurker that felt the need to finally chip in.