Guardian article on CC FInal & Magic Weekend.

[marklaspalmas]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2023/jul/21/challenge-cup-emulate-success-magic-weekend-rugby-league?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

Apologies if posted elsewhere.

I thought it was interesting.

[Pie tries]

Interesting but lazy in parts. Sort out when this comp is to be played, then leave it. Big up the day, big up the weekend, sell tickets to Londoners….

[Adelaide Tiger]

Interesting read regarding using a round of the CC to replicate the existing Magic Weekend.  I found the comment left by GenieJJC to be worthy of highlighting.

To precis their comment.  Play the round of 16 - four games a day - at the same venue over a weekend.  The top 8 from the previous seasons SL automatically qualify for the round if 16 and the bottom 4 of that year play in the round of 32.  Pre-draw the fixtures for the round of 16 at the start of the season so at least the 8 SL clubs that qualified directly know when they will play and hold the round of 32 at least a month prior to the weekend so the other 8 qualifiers have time to sell tickets.

Would this mean that more people attend because of the ‘winner takes all’ knockout format than just a league game at stake?

[marklaspalmas]

4 hours ago, Adelaide Tiger said:

Interesting read regarding using a round of the CC to replicate the existing Magic Weekend.  I found the comment left by GenieJJC to be worthy of highlighting.

To precis their comment.  Play the round of 16 - four games a day - at the same venue over a weekend.  The top 8 from the previous seasons SL automatically qualify for the round if 16 and the bottom 4 of that year play in the round of 32.  Pre-draw the fixtures for the round of 16 at the start of the season so at least the 8 SL clubs that qualified directly know when they will play and hold the round of 32 at least a month prior to the weekend so the other 8 qualifiers have time to sell tickets.

Would this mean that more people attend because of the ‘winner takes all’ knockout format than just a league game at stake?

That's better than what we have now.

[Chris22]

I've seen a few suggest this and think it would be a total disaster and kill the weekend. Same if we change to a 9's competition.

This is probably the only major event in our sport in the UK that isn't seeing attendances fall. Yet it's the one we call to get rid of or change more than any other?