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Magic Round (NRL)

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Suncorp Stadium, the host stadium of the Magic Round

The National Rugby League's Magic Round is a weekend in which all fixtures are played at one venue in Australia. The concept is derived from Super League's Magic Weekend.[1] The first Magic Round, in 2019, was held at Brisbane's Lang Park, in the ninth round of the season, from 9 to 12 May. The Government of Queensland paid approximately $2.1 million per year for the event to be held in the city in 2019 and 2020.[2]

History

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England's Super League first held its Magic Weekend in Cardiff, Wales, in 2007, in part as a bid to promote rugby league there.[3] The event has been repeated on an annual basis, staged also in Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Liverpool. The second-tier Championship followed in 2015 with the Summer Bash, a full round of fixtures that in that year and each subsequent year have been played in Blackpool.

The NRL first announced a Magic Round in 2018, for the 2019 season. It selected Brisbane as the host for 2019 and 2021, with the NRL having the option to continue to hold the event there in 2022 and 2023. The hosting arrangements included an investment from the Government of Queensland.[4] The NRL declared the 2019 event, held from 9 to 12 May, to be a success; the total attendance for the weekend was 134,677.[5]

The second Magic Round was scheduled to be held in May 2020, but was cancelled due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the 2020 NRL season.[6]

After the success of the second Magic Round in 2021, it was announced that the event would be returning to Brisbane in 2022.[7] After continued success in Brisbane in the following seasons, a new three-year contract was awarded to keep the round in Brisbane to at least the 2027 season. [8]

Attendances

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Year City Stadium Days Total Attendance Average Daily Attendance
2019 Brisbane Suncorp Stadium 4 134,677 33,669
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 3 Decrease 130,019 Increase 43,340
2022 3 Increase 130,122 Increase 43,374
2023 3 Increase 147,105 Increase 49,035
2024 3 Increase 149,196 Increase 49,732
2025 3
2026 3
2027 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (9 May 2019). "NSW keen to poach Magic Round from Queensland". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  2. ^ Polkinghorne, David (10 May 2019). "New Civic Stadium would enhance Canberra's Magic Round chances". Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. ^ Shea, Julian (1 May 2007). "Rugby league looks to new horizon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  4. ^ Webster, Andrew (8 May 2019). "From Bris Vegas to Las Vegas: the NRL's bold ambitions for Magic Round". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  5. ^ Lutton, Phil (12 May 2019). "Magic Round tricks every box as crowds respond to Brisbane event". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  6. ^ "NRL cancels Magic Round Brisbane 2020". NRL.com. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. ^ Layt, Stuart (16 May 2007). "NRL Magic Round to stay in Brisbane in 2022 but after that it's anyone's game". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Brisbane secures NRL Magic Round until 2027". ESPN.com. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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