How the Hill Dickinson proved to be MAGIC place

RFL CHIEF REVEALS WHY NEW BLUES HOME IS PERFECT FOR MAGIC WEEKEND

- By CONNOR O'NEILL ECHO Reporter

Stadium lit up in Rugby League Magic Weekend colours in November

(TONY MCARDLE/EVERTON FC)

VERTON and Newcastle United have had plenty of battles on the pitch over the years - but earlier this year one emerged off it.

Once Rugby League Commercial decided that the new Super League season would include a Magic Weekend, it resulted in a straight shootout between the Blues and the Magpies.

Other venues were initially considered, including a return to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, but it very quickly became Everton vs Newcastle. St James’ Park has been the venue for the showpiece event on a record eight occasions, which has provided a massive lift for Newcastle’s PSR status as well as local businesses.

It has been claimed in the past that the event has brought in more than £10m into the local North East economy. St. James’ Park had even become known as the home of Magic Weekend, but one Saturday afternoon back in early November changed everything.

A sellout crowd watched on at Hill Dickinson Stadium, in what was the first non-football event to take place at the venue, as England’s bid to win the rugby league Ashes for the first time in more than half a century was ended after they were beaten 14-4. However, both sets of players were left more than impressed by the atmosphere inside the Blues’ waterfront home, with England star Mikey Lewis even going as far as saying afterwards that the sport had found a new home.