Seeing fireworks is non-rivalrous, but being somewhere is. So getting a good viewing spot for the fireworks is rivalrous.<p>BTW, the title doesn't make any sense<p>edit: typo
> it doesn’t make economic or practical sense for the organisers of the fireworks display to actively exclude people from viewing it, say, by hiring security staff that will actively patrol and prevent people from looking up into the sky<p>It absolutely makes sense. Before the restrictions, watching the fireworks meant ensuring a crush of people for hours, and even getting away from the riverside afterwards could take over an hour. Getting a paramedic in and out of that was terrible, not to mention toilets and small children.<p>Anyone who can look up to the sky is welcome to do so, from hills, rooftops, balconies etc.
So all of the ticket proceeds go towards collecting fees and enforcing the ticket restrictions... so as to reduce public good.<p>Sounds a lot like charging for WiFi, which usually costs as much to administer and enforce as it collects.
Perfect example of when it should have been made of a bunch of smaller fireworks displays, so that people wouldn't want to travel as far but would still be able to watch a fun show.