There is no rugby league in Manchester, believe me. Most of my neighbours and people in my local don't know the first thing about it even though I live just 5 miles from Salford City Reds ground.

That's just an assumption for which you have no evidence whatsoever. The area around the ground has been developed by MCFC to develop a festival atmosphere at City matches - the cafes and bars and big screen at the northern end are great for fans to mingle. The fact that there are fewer bars than at Cardiff may improve the atmosphere because there'll be a higher density of fans.

...and so is that, although here you admit it is just your opinion. If rugby league supporters are so uninterested in their sport that they go home as soon as their club's match is over then there is no point in running this weekend anywhere.

Your concept of 'captive' audience is pointless. Is there any advantage in having fans sat in a stadium who don't really want to be there, who would rather be at home, and are only there because they can't face a 200 mile trip home? Does that improve the atmosphere?

If a fan who is not as interested in other matches knows that they can be home in 60 minutes, or home in 3 hours, after their club's match, how does that make any difference to their decision to stay or go?

Since the original MM was announced, there have been naysayers and generally miserable bu**ers criticising the event. That's going to happen with RL people whatever the RFL do or don't do. This year [iyour[/i upset by it, and a few others on here too, but that really isn't any different from any other year.

I'm glad you are, no need thanks the match will be on the telly.

Still not happy that it's Wigan vs Saints again

One of these days, we might actually get an easy match like Wire/Leeds do every season...

How many locals attended the Cardiff and Edinburgh weekends? Very few, I would imagine.

Holding a round of SL games in a stadium is NOT exposing the local area to the game. Rather it's exposing the local businesses to RL fans' cash, which is precisely why those cities paid for the pleasure. Can anyone demonstrate any RL growth in Cardiff or Edinburgh following the Magic Weekends?

I find it odd you think a shorter journey will make people less likely to attend. I can see your logic, but it's a flawed argument. On one hand you say it's easier and cheaper for fans to 'pop down the road for the day', and then you complain there will be a reduction in weekend ticket sales as a result. That may be true, however, if (as you say) it's so easy and cheap to pop down the road for the day we will see a big increase in day tickets, which will more than make up any decrease in weekend ticket sales.

How many fans only bought day tickets to see their own clubs against how many bought the full weekend ticket at the Cardiff and Edinburgh weekends?

Don't come, that's fine. You probably won't enjoy it anyway. For me, it's a great stadium with an appropriate capacity, and it's handy for the majority of the heartlands. It'll be a great weekend absolutely regardless of any unsubstantiated theories you spout.

Good one Cronus, personnely l dont care what city its in, l,m going for the occasion
no matter where it is most of our beloved flatcappers will moan.
l once spent a night in a hotel in Huddersfield, and l live there, it was an "occasion" a change
l will be going to Manchester, staying overnight, watching ALL the games, because l love RL,
Why if you live in Wigan car,nt you and the missis have a night in a hotel somewhere in or near
Manchester, l,m sure you,ll enjoy it, lets face it one big city is pretty much like the next.
l know people who say they love Spain, they go to Benidorm, which for me is nowhere near Spain
Get your weekend tickets and enjoy the northern hospitality, the Rugby League and forget where you are

This will either go one of two ways; It will be a massive success where 30/40k are there each day or (like me) no-one fancies staying in Manchester (No offense) and just goes for there game and then comes home the same day.