Grand Final parade over for Melbourne event guru Peter Jones after 23 incredible years
For the first time in more than 20 years, Melbourne event supremo Peter Jones is preparing for a quiet Grand Final week, with the iconic street parade not going ahead because of COVID-19.
Fiona Byrne
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For the first time in more than 20 years, Melbourne event supremo Peter Jones is preparing for a quiet Grand Final week.
Jones, via his Peter Jones Special Events team, has event managed the iconic Grand Final parade for 23 years, but this year with the impact of COVID-19 and the AFL finals series being held interstate there won’t be a parade.
“This would have been our 24th parade,” Jones said.
“I have had hail, rain, sleet, 30 degree days and the parade has always gone on, so it has taken a pandemic to stop what is an iconic Melbourne event.
“Next to the Grand Final itself this is one of the great Melbourne experiences. It goes hand-in-hand with the Grand Final.
“It has been the most wonderful event to be involved in because of the passion and excitement of fans of all ages.
“The two most memorable parades were the Bulldogs in 2016 when they made the Grand Final after many years and Richmond in 2017, I have never seen so many fans just wanting to touch their players.”
For Jones, 2020 has been a tough year with a full diary of events wiped out overnight in March with the escalation of COVID-19.
He is deeply worried as to how long the impact of COVID-19 will be felt by the events industry.
With the expected slow relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions towards the end of the year, he said social distancing and limited indoor gathering numbers would mean large scale events will be among the last to return to schedules.