Wednesday 19 October 2016 07:23, UK
Super League have announced that Magic Weekend will return to St James' Park for the 2017 edition, live on Sky Sports.
Magic Weekend was first held in Newcastle in 2015 and returned for a second year in 2016, when more than 68,000 fans attended across the weekend - the highest recorded attendance for the two-day event.
The fixtures for Magic Weekend 2017 have also been revealed, with three games on Saturday, May 20 and three on Sunday, May 21.
In the closing game on Saturday evening Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves face each other in a rematch of the 2016 Super League Grand Final. The Warriors, who defeated the Wolves 12-6 at Old Trafford earlier this month, will lock horns with Warrington in a Magic Weekend fixture for the first time ever at 7pm.
The two other Super League semi-finalists, Hull FC and St Helens, face each other on Saturday afternoon at 4.45pm following the opening fixture of the weekend, Widnes Vikings v Wakefield Trinity at 2.30pm.
Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants will kick off the second day of action when they go head-to-head at 1pm. Leigh Centurions then get their first taste of Magic Weekend as they take on the Salford Red Devils at 3.15pm, before one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes of the season, the Yorkshire derby between Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers, brings down the curtain at 5.30pm.
Announcing the decision to return to St James' Park, Super League General Manager, Mark Foster, said: "We are delighted to be bringing the Dacia Magic Weekend back to Newcastle for the third successive year.
"The city has made us feel incredibly welcome and we know that our fans love visiting the North East not just to witness a whole round of the Betfred Super League but also to take in everything else that this wonderful city and surrounding area has to offer."
It is estimated that the 2016 Dacia Magic Weekend was worth more than £4m to the local economy in the North East, and having broken the record for attendance at a Magic Weekend two years in a row, it is expected that crowds will head to the city in large numbers once again.
Leader of Newcastle City Council, Councillor Nick Forbes, said: "I'm delighted by this hat-trick for Newcastle. Hosting the Magic Weekend for the third year in a row is a chance to show the nation once again all that our vibrant city centre and warm Geordie welcome have to offer.
"Newcastle is gaining a stronger and stronger reputation for hosting major sporting and cultural events. This is all part of our plan to make Newcastle the Great North City, and we know that tournaments such as this attract visitors who want to come back time and again.
"The Magic Weekend is also brilliant for promoting grassroots sports and as in previous years there will be a lot of ways for fans of all ages and abilities to join in the celebrations."
The 2017 Dacia Magic Weekend schedule:
Saturday 20 May 2017
Widnes Vikings v Wakefield Trinity (14:30)
Hull FC v St Helens (16:45)
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (19:00)
Sunday 21 May 2017
Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants (13:00)
Leigh Centurions v Salford Red Devils (15:15)
Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos (17:30)
