Championship Summer Bash 2023: Everything you need to know including kick-off times
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
The Championship Summer Bash heads to York for the first time in 2023, with eight fixtures set to take place inside York’s LNER Community Stadium on the weekend May 27/28.
There is a full programme of Championship games involving all 14 teams, including Toulouse, while on the Sunday, York women will take on Warrington in the Women’s Super League.
It’s the seventh year of the Summer Bash, which was held at Blackpool between 2015-2019 and then moved to Headingley Stadium in Leeds last season.
Days and kick-off times for the Championship Summer Bash 2023
Saturday May 27
Widnes Vikings v Swinton Lions (12.45pm)
Whitehaven v Barrow Raiders (3pm)
London Broncos v Toulouse Olympique (5.15pm)
Featherstone Rovers v York Knights (7.30pm)
Sunday May 28
York Valkyrie v Warrington Women (11.30am)
Newcastle Thunder v Sheffield Eagles (1.45pm)
Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs (4pm)
Keighley Cougars v Bradford Bulls (6.15pm)
Why is Summer Bash not in Blackpool this year?
Blackpool hasn’t hosted a Summer Bash since 2019, when a total attendance of 15,070 watched seven games over the weekend.
The 2020 event was scheduled to be held at Bloomfield Road, the event’s traditional home, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
Coronavirus also put paid to a full league programme in 2021, with the Summer Bash one of the victims, as a shortened league season played out.
When Summer Bash returned in 2022, it clashed with the start of the new Football League season, rendering Blackpool unavailable.
It was also unavailable for 2023 too, thought to be due to ground maintenance work being undertaken at the stadium following the end of the current EFL season.
Which games will be televised at the Championship Summer Bash 2023?
Unlike in previous years, the whole weekend is not being televised. Regular Championship broadcasters ViaPlay Sports are expected to show the two late games on Saturday, between London and Toulouse, and Featherstone and York.
Though as yet unconfirmed, it is thought other games may be streamed live via the Our League app or The Sportsman.
What other non-Championship games have been held at Summer Bash?
The Women’s Super League clash between York and Warrington won’t be the first time a non-Championship game has been held at Summer Bash.
In the first three seasons of the Summer Bash, the League 1 Cup Final was played to kick-start the event. In 2018, Featherstone took on Bradford in the Women’s Super League in the first game.
Who has the best record at Summer Bash?
Both London and Swinton have won three out of four games played at Summer Bash, giving them the joint best record with Leigh.
Swinton have won on all three occasions they have played as a Championship side, with their only defeat coming in the inaugural League 1 Cup final in 2015, when they were beaten by North Wales.
The only three sides to have played and never lost at Summer Bash aren’t participating this year – Toronto, Hull KR and Hunslet.
Barrow, Widnes and York will be looking to win at the event for the first time.
What is the record Summer Bash attendance?
The best aggregate weekend attendance for a Summer Bash was registered in 2017, when 16,444 turned up to Bloomfield Road.
The highest single day attendance was that one in 2017, when 11,557 packed the stadium for a big day of fixtures.
How to get tickets
The capacity of the LNER Community Stadium is 8,500, which is above the usual average for a day of games at Summer Bash.
A bumper crowd of 11,557 turned out on day one in 2017 which included a blockbuster clash between Hull KR and Bradford to round off the day’s matches, with Rovers winning 20-19.
For season ticket holders of Championship clubs, tickets are available direct from each club at 50% off full price, with day tickets from £10 adults and £5 Under-16s. Weekend tickets are from £17.50 adults and £8.75 Under-16s.
In addition, a limited number of full priced tickets are available on general sale at eticketing.co.uk/rugbyleague, with day tickets from £20 Adults and £10 Under-16s, with weekend tickets from £35 for adults and £17.50 for Under-16s.