Tynwald Day Tickets etc

Summary

The request sought detailed ticketing and attendance data for St John's Tynwald Day ceremonies in 2022-2024. The authority disclosed seating capacity, revenue, and complimentary ticket totals, but withheld specific purchase counts, attendance figures, and a detailed breakdown of complimentary allocations due to lack of records and data protection exemptions.

Key Facts

• Seating capacity for the grandstand was 1,344 for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• Revenue generated from grandstand tickets and programmes was £868 in 2022, £1,226 in 2023, and £750 in 2024.
• The number of complimentary tickets distributed was 482 in 2022, 589 in 2023, and 516 in 2024.
• The authority does not hold data distinguishing between ticket sales and programme sales, nor does it record actual spectator attendance numbers.
• A detailed breakdown of complimentary ticket allocation was withheld under Section 25 of the Act as it constitutes personal data.

Data Disclosed

• 1344
• 868
• 1226
• 750
• 482
• 589
• 516
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025
• 700
• 146
• 72
• 182
• 50
• 107
• 1257
• Section 25

Exemptions Cited

• Section 25 (absolutely exempt personal information)

Original Request

For those 'St Johns' Tynwald Day ceremonies held in July 2022, 2023 and 2024 I seek the following information for each respective year: The seating capacity (total number of tickets able to be issued) of the spectator grandstand erected on site; and The number of grandstand seating tickets purchased and revenue generated; and The number of complimentary tickets distributed: and Breakdown of allocation of complimentary tickets e.g. each MHK receives 20, Grandstand Choir receive x, etc; and Numbers of spectators attending each ceremony (seated within the grandstand).

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-Ordinator Office of the Clerk of Tynwald Legislative Buildings Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PW Telephone: 01624 685500

Our ref: 4669025 14th June 2025

Dear #####

We write further to your request, received 19 May 2025, which states:

"For those 'St Johns' Tynwald Day ceremonies held in July 2022, 2023 and 2024 I seek the following information for each respective year:

The seating capacity (total number of tickets able to be issued) of the spectator grandstand erected on site; and

The number of grandstand seating tickets purchased and revenue generated; and

The number of complimentary tickets distributed: and

Breakdown of allocation of complimentary tickets e.g. each MHK receives 20, Grandstand Choir receive x, etc; and

Numbers of spectators attending each ceremony (seated within the grandstand)."

I have set out some of the information you requested in Table 1 below:

• The seating capacity (total number of tickets able to be issued) of the spectator grandstand erected on site. • The revenue generated. • The number of complimentary tickets distributed.

Table 1 Request 2022 2023 2024 Seating capacity (total no of tickets able to be issued) 1344 1344 1344 Revenue generated (£)1 868 1226 750 Number of complimentary tickets distributed
482 589 516

1Revenue figures provided in Table 1 are from grandstand ticket sales (programme included) and individual programme sales (without tickets). We do not hold data that differentiates specifically between revenue for tickets and revenue for programmes.

Our aim is to provide information whenever possible. However, in this instance, some of the information you have requested is not held by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald for the purposes of the Act.

• The number of grandstand tickets purchased
We do not hold the number of grandstand seating tickets purchased, because we do not record this information in a distinct way between grandstand seating sales and programme sales. Further, we are unable to record the number of tickets purchased on the day due to time constraints in dealing with members of the public in a timely and efficient manner when selling Grandstand tickets and programmes.

• Numbers of spectators attending each ceremony (seated within the grandstand). We do not hold information about the numbers of spectators attending the Ceremony seated within the grandstand. We do not record those going onto and off the grandstand and so we do not know whether everyone who purchases a ticket or receives a complimentary ticket makes use of their purchased or complimentary ticket on the day by taking a seat on the grandstand.

• Breakdown of allocation of complimentary tickets
In this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 25 (absolutely exempt personal information) of the Act applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are: the information constitutes personal data of which you are not the data subject, and the disclosure of the information would contravene the data protection principles. However, I can disclose the following information which I hope that this will be useful to you:

Complimentary tickets are offered to the following groups of people. The figures shown in Table 2 are the maximum number of tickets that would be distributed if all offers of complimentary tickets were accepted; these figures are based on those offered tickets in 2025. In previous years, the same groups of people were offered the same number of tickets, but numbers may vary very slightly depending on numbers of individuals within each group. You will see from the information provided in Table 1 that not all offers of complimentary tickets are accepted.

Table 2 Complimentary tickets allocation 2025 Members of Tynwald
700 Participants in the Ceremony
146 Government Departments, boards, offices and local government
72 Charities and Associations 182 Grandstand Choir
50 OCOT Staff and former Members
107 Total
1257

Please quote the reference number 4669025 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely FOI Coordinator