Hill Dickinson Stadium is this week preparing to welcome one of the biggest events in the rugby league calendar as Magic Weekend makes its debut at the home of Everton
Hill Dickinson Stadium before Everton's Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion
Hill Dickinson Stadium before Everton's Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion(Image: (Ryan Jenkinson/Everton FC))
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Magic Weekend heads to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend. Over 70,000 tickets have been sold for the event, surpassing the previous record attendance of 68,276 set at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park back in 2016.
Magic Weekend offers a full festival experience, including unreserved seating, a pass-out system to enjoy the Plaza fan zone, entertainment, live music, in-bowl fan games, competitions, and much more – all in a single venue. The line-up of matches for Super League’s festival weekend will see a return of three of the classic derby matches that were played at the first Magic Weekend in Cardiff in 2007.
The 2025 Betfred Super League champions Hull KR will face their fierce local rivals Hull FC in the second of three matches on Saturday. Then on Sunday, Bradford Bulls will play Leeds Rhinos at Magic Weekend for the first time since 2012, before the weekend ends with the traditional Super League blockbuster between Wigan Warriors and St Helens.
And Aaron Duckmanton, Everton’s chief revenue officer, believes Hill Dickinson Stadium is the perfect stage for rugby league’s biggest summer festival.
He said: “Excitement is really building as Hill Dickinson Stadium prepares to welcome Magic WKND for the first time.
“The response for this event has been outstanding, with ticket sales showing just how much demand there is and how strongly the city, Everton and rugby league fans have embraced Magic WKND.
“From the very beginning, our ambition for Hill Dickinson Stadium has been to create a world-class venue capable of hosting major events that bring people to the city, showcase our waterfront and support the club’s long-term growth.
“Fulfilling what will be a record-breaking Magic WKND is another important step in that journey with many more exciting steps to come.”
The arrival of Magic Weekened at Hill Dickinson Stadium follows the success of last year’s Ashes Test.
While the result may not have gone the way of England, the occasion itself was widely regarded as a success by Rugby League Commercial and by supporters who attended.
And Duckmanton added: “The Ashes fixture demonstrated the stadium’s versatility and the appetite for major Rugby League events at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Magic WKND now gives us the opportunity to build on that success and welcome even more supporters from across the sport for a full festival weekend.
“When you combine a spectacular waterfront stadium with everything Liverpool city centre has to offer - hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife and a genuine major-event atmosphere - it is easy to see why this is such a compelling destination for one of the biggest weekends in the Rugby League calendar.”
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