Where Super League’s Magic Weekend will be held in 2023

The Magic Weekend has been a terrific concept that the majority of the rugby league fraternity has been able to get behind since its creation.

The concept – created in 2007 – was brought in as a bonanza of rugby league to be played over one weekend at one stadium to allow all fans to mingle and raise a glass to the superb sport on show.

Three times it has been held at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium (as it was known back then), twice at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield, three times at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, once at Liverpool’s Anfield and a record six times at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park.

Undoubtedly, the Magic Weekend has found a home at Newcastle with the proximity of the venue to the throng of bars and restaurants of the city centre making it an easy delight for supporters and spectators.

Add into the mix the array of hotels and parking arrangements and the Toon has certainly come up trumps in recent years ever since it was held there back in 2015.

The 2022 version saw over 62,000 fans flock to St James’ Park – a success considering the fact that this Super League season both Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique are in Super League.

The record for the Magic Weekend sits at just over 68,000 – a feat achieved in 2016 – with the lowest recorded attendance coming from Edinburgh’s Murrayfield in 2012 with just over 52,000.

And, it has been decided to take the concept back to Newcastle for 2023, despite some contact from a stadium that has hosted the event once before.

That will be music to many fans’ ears after St James’ Park has proved a big hit with fans over the years and will hopefully see more spectators attend the Magic Weekend in 2023 after the success Newcastle has known in recent years.

With that in mind, the date is perhaps more likely to change considering the fact that the Challenge Cup is set to revert back to August with a fixture jam hopefully avoided.