Magic Weekend 2016 Arrives Back In Newcastle
20 May 2016, 15:31 | Updated: 20 May 2016, 15:45
Super League's 10th Magic Weekend is predicted to break all records.
St James' Park has been chosen to host the latest annual round of league fixtures "on the road'' after a best-yet aggregate crowd of 67,788 watched the 2015 event and projections are for an increase this weekend.
Mark Foster, Super League's interim general manager, said:
"The 10th Magic looks like it will be bigger and better than ever, which is testament to the people that set out the idea at the start.
We're slightly ahead of where we were this time last year. We'd like to get to 40,000 on the Saturday and beat the weekend total as well and the signs are good. We're opening the top tier due to demand.''
Last year the competition provided an estimated £4.2million boost to the local economy and are already hoping to persuade officials to bring it back in 2017.
Newcastle Council leader Nick Forbes has been speaking to Capital's Martin Lindsay
The 2016 Magic Weekend schedule is as follows:
Saturday May 21
2.30pm - Salford Red Devils v Widnes Vikings
4.45pm - Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves
7.00pm - Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors
Sunday May 22
1.00pm - Catalans Dragons v Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
3.15pm - Huddersfield Giants v St Helens
5.30pm - Hull FC v Hull Kingston Rovers
