With the first-ever edition of Magic Round done and dusted, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg is calling the event a “wonderful success”.
134,677 people visited Suncorp Stadium between Thursday and Sunday to catch back-to-back rugby league action, with an average match attendance of over 30,000.
“The crowds have been fantastic and there has been a real festival atmosphere both inside and outside the stadium,” Greenberg said.
“With such a high percentage of people buying the three-day passes, it’s clear fans embraced the concept and wanted to watch multiple teams, games and days.”
On Tuesday’s episode of the Game of Codes podcast, we asked Roar rugby league Expert Joe Frost whether the NRL is correct to be pleased by Magic Round and whether it’s any chance of working outside of Australia’s rugby league heartlands.
Listen to the debate:
Brisbane is set to host the second edition of Magic Round in 2020, with an option to host it again in 2021 and 2022.
NSW Sports Minister John Sidoti told the Sydney Morning Herald he is interested a push to host the event in Sydney down the track, with the NRL reportedly also considering locations such as Melbourne, Perth, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.
Have a listen to the latest episode in the player above or visit our Game of Codes hub for a full list. Be sure to subscribe on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening – and don’t forget to leave a review.
Raj
Roar Rookie
I guess you could do it your way if the customer paid twice
DTP
Guest
No they are not. At least the official crowd of 62 enjoyed it. As I said before Cathar it will be streamed just like u/8 division 6 girls soccer here in Australia. Why are you getting so worked up?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
???????? På dagens 17. mai feiring London fikk Chairman Lee Johnson og Vice Chairman Karl-Fredrik Velle gleden av å overrekke samferdselsminister Jon Georg Dale og Norges ambassadør til Storbritannia Wegger Chr. Strømmen et viking slipps. Dette vil guttene benytte når de er på morgendagens kamp mot Hellas Gratulerer med dagen Norge! Roughly translates to the Norwegian Minister of Transport & the Ambassador to the UK who will attend the game. Also Norwegian streaming site Nettavisen Sport will cover the full match. I think you'll find a lot of other international sports can struggle for mainstream tv coverge. Both squads are majority domestic players FYI.
DTP
Guest
The "Norway" vs "Greece" "World" Cup Qualifier played in London is not shown on TV. It will be live streamed on Facebook just like u/8s division 6 girls soccer gets streamed the same way. Nobody in those countries know the game is taken place hence zero coverage on TV. It's as fake as they come
DTP
Guest
Because nobody attends Taipan. Is there an ignore button here? The RLWC will be attended by the same people who attend every RLWC. The other RL fans wait for the proper Competition the State of Origin
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
" Manufacture" LOL,it's been around even before the RWC.Yes small by comparison. And growing year on year.Don't see anyone who attends embarrassed, the Tv stations who pay the money, the sponsors involved, and the RLIF who revive the profits being embarrasses. Maybe the insecurity of those who bag it, are embarrassing themselves.Sure looks that way.
Hepcat
Roar Rookie
If the unthinkable happens and both Rugby Codes become one then Aussie Rules will just be a strong but stagnant game unlike the international, Olympic, State, Club, Semi Pro, Touch and Tag Monster that Australian Rugby will become and it will happen in the long run.
DTP
Guest
Well said Rowdy! It's pretty embarrassing to have to manufacture a World Cup
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
why not? Just because there will be Sydney teams playing at the same stadium on the same day won't deter fans backing their teams. But I do think it should happen when Allianz or ANZ stads are rebuilt. Fans have overwhelmingly rejected the current unsuitable stadiums outside of the finals for regular season games.
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
Without doubt
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Suggest Rowdy you do some research on the money the English Govt, is putting in to the RLWC 2021, the bidding by stadiums, the sponsors now being involved, for a so called "fake" WC. And teams in Europe(locals) who played to get a gig ,and who will not doubt get a further boost with heritage players.eg this Saturday Norway (rl now a Govt recognised sport there) plays Greece( championship C) to qualify for the WC. And TV coverage.So I wouldn't be bagging it, by calling it a "fake".
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Probably too far away for Sydney fans. Manly fans refuse to travel across the bridge as it is
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Doubt it would even work in Sydney
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
NRL, #2 in it's biggest country and the only country where it's #1 is PNG.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
ASC figures.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
We might not have a WC (where Australia plays) but at least it's not fake like yours.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Success? nrl is a constipated socialist game where the tackler DOESN’T get the ball. 136k in a round is success? AFL is cutting itself because they had a round UNDER 300k. Even SOO is only a success because only two states play it. SOO in Aussie got killed because Vic clubs wouldn’t let players go when Vic wasn’t playing when SA v WA, WA v Tas or Tas v SA. Wagga or Lismore U23s would beat a combined Vic, SA, WA &Tas team in NRL because no-one hardly plays it. —- No insecurity mate. Just clarifying how much more dominant AFL is than NRL.
Craigo
Guest
@Rowdy Feeling insecure? Need to put some hate on the NRL for their success.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
I think you'd be surprised. The key would be scheduling. Run it over three days and make sure you have the Cowboys, Titans and Broncos each playing on a separate day. Have 'day passes' allowing spectators to watch multiple games. It would need some marketing expertise (and common sense!) applied, but I still think it could be a success.
max power
Guest
most people attended multiple matches so your calculation is wrong