NRL to make Magic Round ‘magic’al for fans

Article posted by Coliseum, February 12^th, 2021

Image: NRL

Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) wants to pack Suncorp Stadium with 50,000 fans per day for the return of its Magic Round to be held from May 14^th-16^th, 2021, and also aims to make it a pack-a-punch event.

The National Rugby League (NRL) is Australia’s top-level domestic men’s rugby league club competition. It contains clubs from the original Sydney club Rugby League competition, which had been running continuously since 1908.

The National Rugby League’s Magic Round is a weekend where all fixtures are played at one venue. The concept is derived from Super League’s Magic Weekend.

Suncorp Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Milton. The current facility comprises a three-tiered rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity to pack in 52,500 people.

After debuting in 2019 and being postponed in 2020 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the 2021 version of Magic Round will be a three-day festival featuring 16 teams and eight matches at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The 2021 Magic Round is scheduled to take place with significant fan attendance. Like many of Australia’s sports leagues, the NRL has been able to welcome onlookers back in their numbers with the 2020 Grand Final on October 25^th watched by 37,303 spectators following its switch from Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

Australian Rugby League (ARL) Commissioner Kate Jones remarked, “Magic Round Brisbane really represents a large part of what we missed last year – fans in the stands watching the best entertainment rugby league can offer.”

Added Jones, “It’s a festival like no other – 272 players from all 16 of our clubs all in one venue. There is no sporting event like it in this country. Magic Round Brisbane was such a huge success in 2019 and we will build on it in 2021. It will be the ‘don’t miss’ event for those who enjoy fast-paced and entertaining rugby league combined with entertainment, fun activities and a fan experience like no other.”

Queensland’s Tourism and Sport Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, noted, “Last year was challenging for tourism and events but Queensland’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic meant we were able to stage COVID-safe events sooner and become Australia’s hub of elite sport.”

Added Hinchliffe, “Events continue to play a big role in our COVID-19 economic recovery with this year’s NRL Magic Round expected to attract more than 29,000 football fans to Queensland and support local jobs by contributing almost A$22m (£12.3m/€14m/$17m) to Brisbane’s visitor economy.”

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