Can't see how it's makes money.
The spectators are very early to get a spot to view. They will sit there all day to get the best vantage point, they will not move in fear of loosing it. The best vantage points are along the river. so this is out side the main CBD where the vendors are, so how are they spending money whilst they are hogging a spot of dirt? When it's all over they scramble back to catch the late public transport with their families.
For what it's worth, I knew people who attended New Years festivities in the City and fell in the push of the crowd and got trampled on. So never went again. There is no personal space everyone is in ya face.
I'll just go to bed early again as I do every other year, and go fishing on New Years day whilst the rest of Melbourne has hang overs. It's always quiet on the water that day.:D

