It is the first time the fireworks will be ticketed. The decision was , who cited safety issues as the main cause for limiting the event’s capacity after talks with the Metropolitan Police Service, the British Transport Police, the London Ambulance Service, the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London, local authorities and other key partners.
Jim Donald, project director at Jack Morton Worldwide, said: "It is a great honour to create a show which year on year sets the bar in innovation and creativity, and one with the ambition to position London apart from the other New Year shows around the world. Each year we see more and more people tuning in from home to watch our show in addition to those experiencing it live in central London which is a great testament to its success."
Johnson added: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term. After consulting with our partners, we have introduced ticketing to help manage crowd numbers and create a better experience on the night."
While 100,000 tickets were originally released at a cost of £10 each, high demand has seen passes reportedly being resold for as much as £200.
It was also revealed in November that the Mayor’s office has been unsuccessful in finding a commercial partner for the event. A spokesperson for Johnson told MayorWatch blog: "There is a core budget to deliver this spectacular event enjoyed by millions of people around the world and so even though we have not secured sponsorship this year the event is going ahead as planned.
"Sponsorship would allow us to add to the overall experience of the event but it does not pay for any of the essential elements of the evening. We will of course be seeking to secure sponsorship for this high profile internationally acclaimed show in future years."
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