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Newcastle United’s Saudi owners have vetoed the club’s proposal to stage rugby league’s Magic Weekend at St James’ Park but have indicated they may consider hosting the two-day event again next year.
Rugby Football League officials are keen to return to Newcastle, which has hosted Magic Weekend seven times since 2015, after this month’s event in Leeds was poorly received by fans.
Newcastle’s Saudi bosses were reportedly concerned about potential damage to the pitch on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and were reportedly unimpressed with the club’s commercial return.
Others in Newcastle see the Magic Weekend as a great opportunity to promote the city to non-football fans and attract tourists, a view that is also shared by Newcastle City Council.
The RFL has pledged to deliver a magical weekend, in which all 12 Super League teams will compete at the same venue on successive days, again next year, despite criticism of this year’s spectacle at Elland Road.
Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is also being considered as a potential venue, although a return to Newcastle is the RFL’s preferred option.
Despite criticism that Elland Road attracted only a modest two-day attendance of just over 50,000, the event was one of the best Magic Weekends in financial terms for the RFL due to lower costs and the high number of hospitality packages sold to Leeds-based fans, who did not have to travel.
