Rugby league weekend in which all fixtures are played at one venue
The National Rugby League's Magic Round is a weekend in which all fixtures are played at one venue in Australia. The concept is derived from Super League's Magic Weekend.[1] The first Magic Round, in 2019, was held at Brisbane's Lang Park, in the ninth round of the season, from 9 to 12 May. The Government of Queensland paid approximately $2.1 million per year for the event to be held in the city in 2019 and 2020.[2]
The NRL first announced a Magic Round in 2018, for the 2019 season. It selected Brisbane as the host for 2019 and 2021, with the NRL having the option to continue to hold the event there in 2022 and 2023. The hosting arrangements included an investment from the Government of Queensland.[4] The NRL declared the 2019 event, held from 9 to 12 May, to be a success; the total attendance for the weekend was 134,677.[5]
After the success of the second Magic Round in 2021, it was announced that the event would be returning to Brisbane in 2022.[7] After continued success in Brisbane in the following seasons, a new three-year contract was awarded to keep the round in Brisbane to at least the 2027 season. [8]