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Hull KR five-eighth Terry Campese experienced his first Magic Weekend in front of a crowd of 67,841 over two days at St James’ Park – the home ground of English football club Newcastle United.
The former Canberra Raiders captain said in an interview with Fairfax Media’s (and The Roar Expert) Steve Mascord that the NRL should play a whole round in Perth.
“I think it’s a good concept – they brought it to Newcastle which is predominantly football land,” Campese said.
“And I think you could it in Australia in Perth or somewhere where they want to expand the game in the future.”
If the NRL were to hold a Magic Weekend, how would it work and where would it be held?
In choosing the venue there should be three factors considered: home advantage, future expansion/demand for rugby league, and population/venue capacity.
The home advantage factor automatically rules out the cities which currently host an NRL team: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Townsville. No team will be advantaged with a familiar ground and large supporter base for their team due to this.
The host city must however be located within Australia or New Zealand due to travel times overseas and possible instability in crowds.
The second factor, future expansion/demand for rugby league, will allow the NRL to expand the game into non-traditional areas and help the league gain support throughout Australia and New Zealand to open the possibility for a new franchise. This gives the NRL a chance to test the market and also gives people that do not normally get to see the game live the opportunity to do so.
The third and final factor is population and venue capacity. The host city of the NRL Magic Weekend must have a population of over 200,000 and support sporting fixtures. The venue must also reach certain requirements with capacity over 20,000 (30,000 would be much preferred however).
(To anyone who is worried that rugby league will lose its foothold in country New South Wales, I have an idea that will ensure stability in country towns for years to come. Stay tuned!)
Using these three factors as a basis it leaves the following cities:
Adelaide, South Australia
Population: 1,225,235 (2011 Census)
Potential Venue: AAMI Stadium (51,515), Adelaide Oval (53,583), Coopers Stadium (16,500)
The thought of Adelaide hosting a NRL Magic Weekend would be rubbished by many, despite the fact they city has the necessary population and no team would have a home advantage.
There are two questions to be answered: what stadium should the games be hosted at, and is there any real demand for rugby league in Adelaide?
Coopers Stadium is much too small with a capacity of 16,500 and the only other two grounds available are AFL grounds meaning fans will be far away from the action. Also, the city is not screaming out for NRL action.
Central Coast, New South Wales
Population: 312,184 (2011 Census)
Potential Venue: Central Coast Stadium (20,059)
Sure, the Central Coast is rugby league heartland and is crying out for an NRL franchise, but it is not the right area for the Magic Weekend. The Central Coast may tick one of the three criteria (future expansion/demand for rugby league) but would prove to be a huge risk on the other two factors.
Yes, the Central Coast needs regular NRL games, however Central Coast Stadium (previously Bluetongue Stadium) is too small, and will therefore bring in small gate takings. And while it does not lie within Sydney or Newcastle, it could be considered to give teams a home advantage as the region’s juniors serve the Sydney Roosters, and sits halfway between Newcastle and Sydney.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Population: 341,469 (2013 Census)
Potential Venue: AMI Stadium (18,000)
The New Zealand Kiwis are the No. 1 ranked country in rugby league and the New Zealand Warriors have one of the best junior rugby league systems. New Zealand is the future heartland of rugby league, but the nation only experiences regular football in Auckland. The NRL must expand throughout New Zealand – it brings in new fans and new junior players.
Christchurch is at a great disadvantage however as its largest stadium, AMI Stadium, has a capacity of only 18,000. However the real benefit of taking the Magic Weekend to Christchurch is to make rugby league more popular and better known, which would in turn help increase registration at the junior level.
Perth, Western Australia
Population: 1,728,867 (2011 Census)
Potential Venue: Domain Stadium (43,500), nib Stadium (20,500)
Perth has been touted as the NRL’s first priority for expansion and rightfully so. The city has a large population, and there is high demand as there is no NRL team.
The reasons why the West Coast Pirates should be included in the National Rugby League link directly with the reasons Perth should host the Magic Weekend. It’s a no-brainer.
The Magic Weekend would likely have to be taken to Subiaco Oval to allow for large gate-takings, as nib Stadium is simply too small.
Wellington, New Zealand
Population: 318,090 (2013 Census)
Potential Venue: Westpac Stadium (34,500)
Wellington is New Zealand’s third-largest city with a population of over 300,000 and its major venue, Westpac Stadium, has a capacity of over 30,000 – perfect to host such an event.
It would be well received by the people of Wellington and despite poor crowds in the A-League, Super Rugby and AFL, the Magic Weekend would attract fans due to its carnival atmosphere – similar to the Auckland Nines.
Apart from Perth, Wellington is the only viable option.
But wouldn’t the Magic Weekend mean that NRL clubs would be left with an uneven amount of home-and-away games?
Yes, which is why the NRL should have two Magic Weekends, played in the full rounds played between State of Origin 1 and State of Origin 3.
One match would be played on Friday (6pm Perth; 8pm Wellington), four games on Saturday (1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm Perth; 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm Wellington) and three games on Sunday (2pm, 4pm, 6pm Perth; 4pm, 6pm, 8pm Wellington).
The broadcasters would have to compromise on this with Nine Network being awarded live games on Friday night (6pm Perth; 8pm Wellington), Saturday afternoon (1pm Perth; 6pm Wellington) and Sunday afternoon (2pm Perth; 6pm Wellington). Fox Sports would show all other games live.
Holden Cup games would be played as either stand-alone games or curtain-raisers to reserve grade matches. One match would be taken to the Magic Weekend city as a curtain-raiser for the Friday night match.
How has the concept been met in the Super League? Magic Weekend has attracted regular aggregate crowds over 50,000 since its inception in 2007 and has been to Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle.
I have just one more thing to add – a similar rugby league extravaganza played between Sydney clubs. Fans of Sydney-based clubs should be able to see their team take part in a massive day of rugby league to be held at ANZ Stadium on the Saturday before Anzac Day. A capacity crowd of over 80,000 would turn out to see the Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers host three travelling teams. The first match would be played at 3pm and be followed by games at 5pm and 7pm.
A second rugby league extravaganza would be held in Sydney at Allianz Stadium on a Saturday toward the end of the season. A capacity crowd of over 40,000 would turn out to see the Manly Sea Eagles, Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters host three travelling teams. Matches would be played at the same time as the triple-header mentioned above – 3pm, 5pm and 7pm.
I understand that Manly fans will rarely cross the Spit Bridge, however it will prove a huge financial incentive for the Silvertails and the NRL.
The rugby league extravaganza would return to ANZ Stadium again on a Saturday toward the end of the season. A capacity crowd of over 80,000 would turn out to see the South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers host three travelling teams. Again, matches would be played at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm.
Rugby league needs a magic weekend. If the NRL doesn’t act now it will never happen and we will regret it.
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