Eddie McGuire defends costs for Shane Warne Memorial

Eddie McGuire responded angrily to a report that his production company JAM TV was paid $1,013,191 to stage and produce Shane Warne Memorial Service in 2022.

Documents obtained by The Age under freedom of information show the memorial was almost triple the cost of the second most expensive service – the farewell for four police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway and more than memorials for Judith Durham, Archie Roach, Uncle Jack Charles.

$420,993 was paid to the Melbourne Cricket Club for MCG venue costs with even management company Peter Jones Special Events paid $89,934.

But Warne’s was also a much bigger state affair held at the MCG and beamed around the world. More than 55,000 people attended the free service, which featured remote performances from Elton John, Robbie Williams and Chris Martin of Coldplay. Cricket greats including former Australia captains Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Michael Clarke were in attendance, as was West Indian great Brian Lara.

An emotional McGuire told 3AW show was produced “on the smell of an oily rag”.

It was also pulled together quickly under emotional stress for many involved.

McGuire said the service had to take place at the MCG because a stand named in honour of Warne needed to be unveiled. Costs were also understood to exceeed the fee paid by the Victorian Government, with McGuire personally putting in his own money.

“It didn’t need to have these things done – no but we did because it went around the world,” he said. “I had executive producers from Hollywood ringing me the next day who I’d never heard of, who just said we saw this, this was incredible. We put our heart and soul into this because we loved Shane and we love this city.”

McGuire also blasted The Age for failing to contact him for comment before publishing an article revealing how much his company was paid for its part in the service.

“It’s interesting, because The Age is about 45 steps from the Footy Classified office,” he said.

“To have a smart alec line item in there that pointed at me as if I’ve put a million dollars in my pocket — Please! As if!”

Source: 3AW, Yahoo
Photo: Eddie Jim