MAGIC Weekend is set to return to Newcastle in 2023 – but move earlier in the calendar.
SunSport understands both Super League and its clubs made a six-figure profit from the event, which saw more than 62,000 fans attend St James’ Park across Saturday and Sunday.
And the enthusiasm of Newcastle United to have the showcase on their turf looks set to clinch the rights for 2023.
The only change, however, is likely to be when it is played as the Challenge Cup final looks like reverting to August.
That means an early to mid-June slot for Magic so fans will not have to fork out for that, the cup final and then the play offs and Grand Final in quick succession.
Saturday, June 3 may also be avoided in case Newcastle reach the FA Cup final!
Bosses are believed to be very pleased with the increase of about 1,300 people for this year’s event, which featured two French teams, Catalans and Toulouse.
SunSport also understands the change of ownership at the football club, with Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund and Amanda Staveley’s PCP coming in, has not changed much.
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For the terms of hiring St James’ Park are believed to be largely unchanged and they are thought to be keen on having Magic Weekend there.
And the hope for 2023 is to push for 65,000 fans as the cost of living crisis may have eased with more confidence around living with Covid-19 among supporters.
It is also believed more activities around the matches can take place as many had to be curtailed because Newcastle’s pitch is only six-weeks-old and they have a pre-season friendly double header against Italians Atalanta and Spaniards Athletic Bilbao on July 29 and 30.
This year’s Magic Weekend attendance was more than 5,200 more than at Anfield in 2019, a move that is widely regarded throughout rugby league as a disaster.
However, is it understood that may have been done to sharpen minds in the north east, where the event had been held between 2015 and 2018.
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