Newcastle Might Reevaluate Magic Weekend Return Following 2024 Omission

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Newcastle United’s Saudi Arabian owners have rejected the club’s proposal to host rugby league’s Magic Weekend at St James’ Park but have hinted at the possibility of reconsidering for next year.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) is keen to return to Newcastle, which has hosted Magic Weekend seven times since 2015, following this month’s less well-received event in Leeds.

The Saudi leadership at Newcastle expressed concerns about potential damage to the pitch, especially given it was the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and was dissatisfied with the commercial returns for the club.

Others at Newcastle, including Newcastle City Council, view Magic Weekend as a valuable opportunity to promote the city to non-football fans and attract tourism.

The RFL plans to hold another Magic Weekend next year, despite the criticisms of this year’s event at Elland Road. Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is also being considered as a potential venue, though Newcastle remains the RFL’s preferred choice.

Despite the modest attendance of just over 50,000 at Elland Road, this year’s event was financially successful for the RFL due to lower costs and high sales of hospitality packages to local Leeds fans, who did not need to travel.