Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium to host Super League’s Magic Weekend for next two seasons

The Premier League champions’ 48,000-seater home held the one-off round of matches for the first time last season after previous stints in Cardiff and Edinburgh and Super League sides will gather in Eastlands again for the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

Next season’s Magic Weekend will take place over the May Spring Bank weekend with four matches held on Saturday, May 25 and three on Sunday, May 26.

“It gives me great pleasure to be able to confirm that Etihad Stadium will again host the Super League Magic Weekend in 2012,” said Super League chief executive Nigel Wood.

“It was clear from the feedback we received from this year’s event that the overwhelming majority of fans had a fantastic experience at the stadium and were keen to return.

“The location and lay-out of the Etihad Stadium provides the perfect setting for this unique and very special sporting event and I am sure Magic Weekend will continue to grow in stature as more fans experience the extraordinary nature of Super League.”

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats beat Castleford Tigers 32-26 in last year’s Magic Weekend and the old foes are set to meet against in Manchester.

Steve Sayer, operations director for Manchester City FC said: “After the 2011-12 record breaking season for Manchester City, the success continued with highest ever attendances at the Super League’s Magic Weekend at the Etihad Stadium and we are delighted to welcome the event back to Manchester for a second and third year.

“The Etihad Stadium is firmly established as one of the leading multi-use outdoor venues in the UK, with a proud track record of non-football events at the stadium including Coldplay, Take That, Bruce Springsteen, and Bon Jovi will play The Etihad next summer.

“We are proud to add the Magic Weekend to that list and hope that members of the RFL family will continue to support the event.”

Full details of the Magic Weekend fixture schedule will be announced next Monday along with the 2013 Super League fixtures.

See this week’s Express for all the latest sports news from around the district.