Super League: Challenge Cup could move from traditional Wembley home after club-led strategic review recommendations

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ZenithBloom

The Rugby Football League is considering alternative venues for the Challenge Cup final in a bid to boost attendance figures. The current average crowd at Wembley has not exceeded 65,000 since 2017, prompting calls for a change from London's iconic stadium.

A club-led strategic review, commissioned by the RFL, recommended exploring new options for the tournament's showpiece event. The review also proposed other changes to the competition, including hosting the round of 16 at a neutral venue in a Magic Weekend-style format to "put the magic back into the competition."

Another suggestion was to introduce a 'Community Shield' style fixture between the winners of the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup. Additionally, the RFL is exploring plans to expand the Super League from 14 teams to 16 when financial and operational growth factors allow.

However, any changes will be conditional upon the sport being able to financially sustain such growth, including player supply, without negatively impacting current club revenue distributions.
 
I think it's kinda weird that they're looking at alternative venues for the Challenge Cup final just 'cause attendance is down 🤔. I mean, sure, 65k might not be as high as some years, but Wembley's still a legendary venue and I'm sure fans would love to see their teams play there 💪.

I do get why they're looking at other options though - the sport needs to grow, right? 🌱 And having more games could definitely help with that. The idea of hosting the round of 16 at a neutral venue is pretty cool 👍. It'd be awesome to see some new teams and stadiums involved.

I'm also on board with expanding the Super League to 16 teams ⚽️. More competition, more excitement - it's all good stuff! 🎉 But I hope they can make sure that any changes don't affect the smaller clubs too much 🤞. We need to keep making sure everyone has a fair shot at competing and winning 💯.
 
I mean, can't say I'm surprised they're looking for ways to jazz up the Challenge Cup final 🤔. 65k is a decent crowd, but it's been dwindling over the years. I think making it more of a community event could work - like having some fun stuff going on outside the stadium beforehand? It's always been a bit of a snooze-fest for me watching from home... if they can make it more engaging for fans who aren't already die-hards, that'd be a win 🏉
 
I think it's a good idea for them to explore new venues for the Challenge Cup final 🤔. 65k just isn't enough anymore, you know? I've been to some of those games and they're always electric! But at the same time, Wembley is an iconic venue, so you gotta consider preserving that history 🏟️.

I'm intrigued by the idea of a Magic Weekend-style format for the round of 16 tho 🔜. That sounds like a great way to mix things up and make it more exciting for fans. And who wouldn't want to see some more high-profile matches on TV? 📺

But let's be real, we all know that attendance figures have been struggling lately 💔. Maybe they just need to do something drastic enough to get people buzzing again 🤯. Either way, I hope the RFL is careful with any changes and makes sure it doesn't negatively impact the clubs' revenue distributions 😊.
 
I'm low-key surprised the Challenge Cup final isn't at Wembley anymore 🤔 I mean, it's an iconic venue, but if they're having attendance issues, maybe a change is in order. That Magic Weekend-style format sounds kinda cool though - imagine the atmosphere! And introducing a Community Shield match between the Grand Final and Challenge Cup winners could be a great idea, gets more fans excited 🏆. But, 16-team Super League? That's a big ask, gotta make sure it doesn't hit clubs hard financially 💸. Hopefully, the RFL can make some smart decisions to grow the sport without screwing over the teams that already exist 😊
 
I think it's a total waste of time trying to boost attendance figures by moving the Challenge Cup final to some new venue 🤷‍♂️. I mean, Wembley's got history and atmosphere, who needs all that fancy-schmancy extra stuff? Let the fans just enjoy what they already have, ya know? 🙄 And another thing, if the RFL is worried about attendance figures, maybe they should focus on making the game more exciting, not some gimmicky reformatting. The round of 16 at a neutral venue sounds like a total snooze-fest to me 😴. Let's just stick with what works and leave the magic to the players, coaches, and fans, not some fancy-pants marketing team 🎉.
 
Ugh man I'm so done with Wembley being the only place for the Challenge Cup final 🤦‍♂️ it's like they're trying to suffocate the competition and push people away from actual rugby matches 🏉. 65,000 is a joke what's next 10,000? or maybe just stream everything online so people don't even bother showing up? 📺 I mean I love Wembley as much as the next person but come on let's mix it up a bit and give some other clubs a chance to host their own events 👍. And what about the Magic Weekend idea? now that sounds like a solid plan to "put the magic back into the competition" 🔮. Let's not forget the Super League expansion either, 16 teams is gonna be insane 🤯 can you even imagine all those matches crammed into one season? 😂 we need some serious growth and innovation in this sport or it's just gonna die on its face 👎
 
I'm still not sure about this idea of changing venues for the Challenge Cup final 🤔. I mean, Wembley's been hosting it for ages and it's always had a huge atmosphere, even if numbers aren't at their peak anymore ⚽️. But at the same time, you've got to think about how to grow the game and make it more appealing to fans. The idea of a neutral venue for the round of 16 is kind of cool, though - it'd be great to see some different stadiums hosting the tournament 🏟️.

And I'm not sure about the Community Shield style fixture... it sounds like an extra game we don't really need 🤷‍♂️. But hey, if it's gonna help bring in more fans and revenue, then I'm all for it 💸. One thing's for sure, though - if they do expand the Super League to 16 teams, it's gotta be done carefully so the clubs don't get overwhelmed 🤯. Can't have any of us struggling financially 😬.
 
I feel like they're trying to recreate the Magic Weekend vibe 🏟️ at Wembley but it's just not the same as it was back in 2014 when they first did it... remember how packed that place was? Now it's like a ghost town, only 65,000 showing up? I get why they want to boost attendance, but can't they just go back to the old formula? Introduce a community shield style match between the Grand Final and Challenge Cup winners would be sick! And what about the Magic Weekend-style round of 16 at a neutral venue? That sounds like a great way to shake things up. But yeah, let's get Wembley filled up again like it used to be back in the day 🙄
 
🤔 I think Wembley's attendance figures are pretty decent considering it's been a while since they broke 65k... maybe they just need to make some tweaks? 🤷‍♂️ What if they had a smaller, more intimate setup for the Challenge Cup final? It'd be cool to see a different venue, like Old Trafford or Twickenham, host it. 🔥 As for expanding the Super League, I'm all for more games and excitement! But let's not rush into anything, we need to make sure it doesn't affect the clubs' bottom line... that's key 💸
 
I don't know about these new ideas for the Challenge Cup final... I mean, Wembley's always been a legendary spot for rugby, you feel me? 🤔 Still, if it means getting more people into the game, I'm all for it. But changing the format or having a Community Shield thing sounds kinda weird to me. What do they think is missing from the competition that needs this kind of shake-up? 😐 And 16 teams in the Super League? That's a big jump... hope it pays off 🤑
 
the RFL should consider moving the Challenge Cup final to a neutral venue, like London's Twickenham stadium 🏟️. it's been pretty quiet at Wembley lately and maybe a change of scenery would draw in more fans. also, having some new games on a bigger stage could actually put more excitement into the competition, you know? 👍 the idea of a Community Shield style fixture is cool too - imagine a mini final to kick off the season 🎉. but yeah, they need to make sure it won't break the bank for the clubs or anything 😊.
 
omg, can't believe Wembley's crowd's been so low since 2017 🤯... hopefully they can find a new home that'll get people pumped for the Challenge Cup final again 💥! I think having more neutral venues or something like that Magic Weekend format would be sick though 🏆. And introducing a Community Shield style fixture sounds cool too, winners of Grand Final vs Challenge Cup winner... winner takes all 💪. But gotta make sure it's financially stable or else clubs won't lose out on revenue 🤑
 
man i feel like they're just trying to save wembley but at what cost? 🤔 they want to boost attendance but it's not like people aren't going to shows anymore...it's more about the atmosphere and excitement of the event. and what's with all these changes? a community shield style fixture sounds cool but is it really needed? can't they just mix up the format without making so many drastic decisions? 🤷‍♂️ i guess if they can make it work financially and keep the clubs happy then yeah, go for it! 💸 but let's not forget about the old-school charm of wembley...it's a big part of rugby's history. maybe they should just tweak things instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater? 🤷‍♂️
 
I'm not sure about this change 🤔... I mean, Wembley's been hosting the Challenge Cup final for ages and it's still one of the most iconic events in English rugby league. But at the same time, attendance figures have been struggling lately. 65,000 is a decent crowd, but if you're not getting that many people there, something needs to change 📉

I think what they should do instead of changing venues altogether is try and boost the atmosphere at Wembley 🎉. More promotions, better ticket deals, maybe even some live music or entertainment before the match? That might get more butts on seats without having to sacrifice the integrity of the event.

And oh man, a 'Community Shield' style fixture sounds mental 😂... like, who wouldn't want to see their local heroes take on the Grand Final winners in a special game? But seriously, it's not just about the fans - it's also about how much it'll cost clubs to take part. That needs to be carefully considered before making any big changes 🤑
 
I mean, come on... Wembley's always been a thing, but 65k since 2017 is kinda low for a final 🤯. I get it, attendance figures need a boost, but changing the venue just 'cause of that? It might not be the best idea. What about adding more seats or something? That way, they can keep Wembley as the main spot and still pack it in.

And what's up with this "putting the magic back into the competition" nonsense? 🙄 If you want to boost attendance, you need to make the game more exciting, not just slap a new label on things. That Magic Weekend-style round of 16 thing sounds cool and all, but how's that gonna actually help?

Expanding the Super League from 14 to 16 teams is a decent idea tho 🤔. More games = more revenue = happy clubs. And a Community Shield-style fixture between the winners? Now that's an interesting move. It could add some extra hype to the tournament, but only if it's done right.

The thing is, though, all these changes gotta be financially viable or they'll just end up making things worse 🤑. The RFL needs to do their due diligence and make sure any new ideas won't hurt anyone more than help.
 
🤦‍♂️[Image of a rugby ball with a sad face 🤔] Average crowd at Wembley is like my attention span - it's been dwindling since 2017 😴. Time to shake things up and get the magic back into the competition! 💫 Maybe they should just introduce a 'Rugby Olympics' format, where every team plays each other in a huge tournament 🤯.

[Image of a stadium with a big crowd 🏟️] And can we talk about how boring it is when teams don't even make it to the final? Let's give them another shot at glory! 🔥💪

[Image of a confused face 😕] But for real though, introducing a 'Community Shield' style fixture between the winners and Challenge Cup champs sounds like a solid idea 👌. It'd be sick to see some new rivalries born 🤝.

[Image of a clock ticking ⏰] Time's running out for the RFL to get it right... let's hope they can make some changes before it's too late 🕰️!
 
omg i'm so hyped they're thinkin of changin up the Challenge Cup final venue lol wembley's been doin it for years but 65k is low even for a sunday match 🤔 idk what else they can do tho, super league's supposed to be the top tier now and if we wanna attract more fans we need better venues 🏟️ maybe somethin like old Trafford or emirates? would def bring in more cash 💸 gotta make sure clubs r still gettin enough revenue though, dont wanna see any of dem strugglin' 😔 hope they find a solution tho, can't wait for the Super League to expand to 16 teams 📈🏉
 
🤔 I mean, what's wrong with Wembley? It's been hosting that final for ages and it still gets a decent crowd, right? 65k isn't bad! 🤑 But if they think it's not enough, maybe the problem is just the way they're promoting it or something. Like, are they not making it sound exciting enough to fans? I don't get why they need to change venues just because of attendance numbers... unless there's a new stadium coming up that everyone wants to go to and Wembley's like "meh". 🤷‍♀️ And what's with the Magic Weekend idea? Sounds like they want to spice things up, but are they gonna make it more expensive for fans or just push them around from one day to another? 🕰️
 
I don't know about this idea of changing venues for the Challenge Cup final... I mean, Wembley's been hosting these events for ages and it's still one of the most iconic stadiums in the world 🏟️. I remember watching old videos of the 90s and early 2000s where the crowds were like 80k+ and it was such an electric atmosphere 🎉. Now, it seems like they're trying to relive the past by hosting at a neutral venue? I'm not sure that's the answer... what do you think? Should Wembley be kept as the main event or is something new needed to bring in more fans? I guess what's important is that they don't mess with the league structure too much, like back in the old days when we used to have all these different regional comps 🤔.
 
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