Rugby League Commercial has confirmed a record Sunday (May 4) crowd for Super League’s latest Magic Weekend.
A total of 32,862 rugby league fans headed to Newcastle’s St James’ Park on Sunday, taking the overall gate for the weekend to 64,156. The previous best Sunday attendance for Magic Weekend had been 30,793 at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in 2013.
The overall figure also marks the best attendance for Magic Weekend since 2018.
Magic Weekend’s return to St James’ Park was announced back in November. The stadium, which is home to the Premier League’s Newcastle United, had hosted the event on seven previous occasions.
Last year’s event took place at Elland Road in Leeds, while Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium hosted the event in 2019.
An entire round of Super League fixtures take place during Magic Weekend at the same venue over two days.
“It’s been a successful and enjoyable return to Newcastle for the sport and the Betfred Super League competition, and we are delighted to have attracted our highest Magic attendance for seven years including the best-ever Sunday crowd,” commented Rhodri Jones, managing director of RL Commercial.
“It maintains the momentum that has been building since our record opening night attendance in February, the historic Super League fixture in Las Vegas in March, and a record-breaking Rivals Round in April.
“Magic is about more than numbers and statistics – the warmth of the welcome we have received from Newcastle United, Newcastle City Council, NGI and NE1 has been appreciated by tens of thousands of rugby league supporters who have travelled from all over the country to celebrate the sport, in a weekend which remains unique domestically, and has now been replicated in Australia.”
Jones added that RL Commercial will review the weekend with announcements on the 19th edition of Magic Weekend in 2026 to be made in due course.