Stuart WoodCulture Liverpool contracted Symphotech to support their delivery of Liverpool FC’s Champions League winners parade through the city, 2 June.
An estimated 750,000 fans lined the 15km parade route across Liverpool, culminating at its iconic waterfront. Jubilant fans came from all over the UK to see the three open-top buses make their way through a city painted red by flags and flares.
Symphotech was engaged by Culture Liverpool, with Eddy Grant appointed the principal safety advisor for the parade. He worked collaboratively alongside Liverpool Football Club, the Merseyside Police and other stakeholders from the outset of planning in early March.
“Symphotech were integral in helping us deliver one of the biggest events the City has ever seen.”
A contingency plan was formed to manage a safe celebration with minimum possible disruption to the city.
Sue Lees, Culture Liverpool’s event manager, stated: “We’ve worked with Eddy and Symphotech for many years, and their knowledge of event safety, crowd dynamics, the locality and our resources, gave us the confidence that they would be great partners. Symphotech were integral in helping us deliver one of the biggest events the City has ever seen.
“There were so many different factors and contingencies within contingencies to consider for an event that played out under the eyes of the world’s media.”
Building on plans this events team had made for the 2018 Champion’s League final and this seasons’ potential Premier League win, the organisers planned meticulously, without knowing if it would happen until 10 pm the night before, when Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.
On the parade day, Grant was based with Lees, the multi-agency control and the parade management team coordinating on the ground operations. They welcomed the team in from their flight and set them off on the coaches.
Symphotech’s Paul Marley was in the lead vehicle in front of the buses, with Walter Hubers selected to go on the team bus due to his ability to speak seven languages and previous public parade experience.
Symphotech director Will Hodgson and Pete Watts focused their attention on the final two kilometres of the route, down The Strand past the Liver and Cunard Buildings to its end point opposite Queen’s Wharf.
With over 200,000 people condensed into this part of the route, additional pedestrian barriers and security were deployed here, all supported with Merseyside’s Blue light team.
Grant stated: “This was a unique event with a complex multi-agency operation, where fast, effective communication and decision-making was needed. We worked with experienced partners assessing multiple risks, ensuring the safety of hundreds of thousands of people – and of course the Liverpool Football team.
“It was a long day we reflected on with triumph, pride and a sprinkling of relief as the city was cleared and returned for its normal Monday morning business.”