Day one of the 2024 edition of Magic Weekend has finished and the attendance figure has been confirmed as 30,810, ranking as the 11th-best day one attendance of the event in Super League history.
Much had been made of the fact Magic Weekend had been moved from its recent home of St James Park in Newcastle to Elland Road in Leeds with fans generally upset at the decision, however, they have turned out in strong numbers on day one.
Part of that will come down to the fact that many of Super League’s best-supported teams played in Hull FC, Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Warrington Wolves and hometown favourites Leeds Rhinos.
Four of those sides boast an average attendance of 10,000 or more with Warrington Wolves close to that landmark figure which helps to explain the strong attendance on day one, however, it still only ranks as the 11-best all-time during the 17 years that Magic Weekend has been held.
Below today’s attendance are the two Edinburgh and Manchester editions, the sole Liverpool venture and the second-ever event in Cardiff in 2008.
It does fall 10,000 fans shy of the highest-ever day one attendance of 40,871 at St James Park in 2015, the first year that the event moved to Newcastle.
Those fans that did go were treated to a resilient London Broncos performance in game one as the fight to avoid the wooden spoon heated up as Hull FC lost 29-4. St Helens were then nilled by Wigan Warriors who went top with their 20-0 win whilst the final game saw Warrington Wolves keep the pressure on with a 24-6 win over Leeds Rhinos.
How day one of 2024’s Magic Weekend attendance ranked
Credit: SWpix
17. Edinburgh 2010 – 26,642
16. Edinburgh 2009 – 29,627
15. Liverpool 2019 – 30,057
14. Cardiff 2008 – 30,628
13. Manchester 2012 – 30,763
12. Manchester 2013 – 30,793
11. Leeds 2024 – 30,810
10. Cardiff 2011 – 30,891
9. Cardiff 2007 – 32,384
8. Newcastle 2021 – 35,104
7. Newcastle 2017 – 35,361
6. Manchester 2014 – 36,339
5. Newcastle 2022 – 36,821
4. Newcastle 2023 – 36,943
3. Newcastle 2018 – 38,881
2. Newcastle 2016 – 39,331
1. Newcastle 2015 – 40,871
Attendance stats from Rugby League Project
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