What’s on in the Fanzone at the Magic Weekend

Correspondent

As well as seven Super League matches, there’s plenty of off-field activity to keep supporters entertained at this weekend’s Magic Weekend at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Off the field, the activities are just as captivating with a wide range of attractions which are guaranteed to keep every member of the family busy and entertained across both days.

Super League’s official partners are offering an exciting range of fan activities both in the Fanzone outside the stadium and during the stadium entertainment programme.

In the stadium there will be a house band – Conquer Rio – who will entertain the crowd between matches.  Before every game there will be the opportunity for fans to watch the game from the Heinz Soup-er seat – where they will watch the game from the comfort of a sofa and enjoy Heinz Big products and champagne. To be selected for this great opportunity fans will have to demonstrate their skill playing the bongos on the Heinz bongo cam.

The Fanzone will open from Saturday at 10.00am until 6.15pm and from Sunday at noon until 7.00pm. 

The Rugby League World Cup trophy will be in attendance, in what is a huge year for the sport, with the 14-nation taking place in England and Wales this autumn, and fans will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with the sport’s most coveted piece of silverware.

Other activities will include:

• Foxy Bingo will have their special double decker bus, which will be fitted out with its own nail station for fans, as well as fun competitions to take part in;

• Heinz will be running the Big Soup passing challenge;

• Irn Bru will have a sumo wrestling and tackle game for fans to test themselves on;

• Brut are offering fans the chance to test out their skills like the Super League extraordinary players with a James Roby pull ups test, a Tom Briscoe passing speed challenge and the Sam Tompkins reactions and agility test;

• There will be a green screen photo opportunity where you can be captured lifting the Super League Trophy at The Grand Final;

• The RAF will be bringing their climbing wall along for people to test their head for heights.

Fans will again be able to send interactive messages of support to their team, fellow fans and to celebrate special events like birthdays. These messages will be displayed on digital boards in and around the stadium. Messages can be sent on the day but fans will also be able to prepare their messages in advance and have them pre-loaded onto the system via the RFL’s Facebook and Twitter using  #magicweekend.

Many supporters will find access to The Magic Weekend even easier this year with the new Metrolink service to the stadium direct from central Manchester. 

The new Etihad Campus link opened in February and goes from Bury via Piccadilly Station to the Etihad and on to Droylsden. Fans wishing to plan their journey in advance can see all the details as metrolink.co.uk/droylsden.