Michael Jackson's Memorial: Huge Crowds, Lottery Tickets

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles city officials are preparing for massive crowds downtown during Tuesday's public memorial for Michael Jackson at Staples Center, even though only 17,500 tickets are being offered to the public.

Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger says anywhere from a quarter-million to 700,000 people may try to reach the arena, even though a wide area around Staples Center will be sealed off to those without tickets.

City Councilwoman Jan Perry strongly urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. The ceremony will not be shown on Staples' giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.

But public safety officials appeared to assume their requests to stay home would have little effect. Since Jackson's death, fans have flocked to Jackson sites from Los Angeles to his Neverland Ranch in rural Santa Barbara County.

Staples Center is offering the memorial tickets through an Internet lottery. Eleven thousand tickets are for the arena and 6,500 for the adjacent Nokia Theatre.

People who want tickets must register on the Web at Staplescenter.com. After 6 p.m. Saturday, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each. Notifications will go out on Sunday.

After the ticketing details were announced on television, it became impossible to log on to the arena's Web site.

Brent Trueheart, 20, of Los Angeles, went online on his cellphone immediately after hearing the announcement.

"It kept saying 'service unavailable, service unavailable,' and finally it got through. So once it got through, I started celebrating," he said. "It feels real good."

No details were given about the actual memorial events.

The memorial comes as the nation's second-largest city struggles with a $530 million budget deficit.

Perry said the cost of police protection for "extraordinary" events like the memorial is built into the Police Department's budget, but she still solicited help for "incremental costs."

Last month, donations covered about $850,000 of the city's $1 million cost for the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA championship parade. Critics had blasted the idea of using city money when it is considering layoffs to close its budget gap.

Comments

[jalowe1957]

I've entered the lottery for tickets for Michael's memorial service. But then, I'm as likely to get a pair of tickets as I am to have hymen reconstructive surgery.

[Carmichael]

I honestly think that what the family needs to do, is do the same thing like they did for lady Diana in England...let everyone see the pop star put to rest, make it a public viewing through the streets. Simple as that.

[MovingtoNorway]

Who's paying for this mess?

[epiphany1234]

"Ticketing" such a solem event just doesn't seem right.

They should have just opened the doors to the first 22,000 or whatever number fills the arena.....no tickets, just first come first in. And let it be.

[yasmeen]

the tickets are FREE just to make sure each person has a seat and gets through the street blockade.......and we'll pass on your stampede that will cause many deaths. women die at first -come- first- serve shoe sales in crowds of hundreds...you wanna try it here?!
"and let it be" indeed!! do you work for FEMA?

[chitown8]

I entered my name for a ticket. I hope I get it.

[randyleearnold]

I'm happier for the Staples Center Memorial than at Neverland . . . which I believe became a became a symbol of pain for MJ. However, as I have commented before, there should be multiple Memorials in venues across the U.S. and the world (JAPAN, FRANCE, CHINA, ENGLAND) so his fans can mourn and celebrate his earthly life.

[Carmichael]

I also support this idea too

[yasmeen]

al sharpton said there will be

[sexyrexy]

now, they released the tape of that raid.. no wonder Mj felt so violated.. guns cocked with little kids in the house.. you'd hink they were after some Drug kingpin in columbia.. or a Dillinger character..

Sneddon has a lot to answer for this man's demise.

[Ecoutez]

One story Michael told in an interview that infuriates me is the time the LAPD locked him in a restroom that had feces strewn on the walls...he kept pleading with them to open the door...but they had him locked in for 45 minutes. I believe the interview was with the late Ed Bradley on 60 minutes.(it's on YouTube). This was cruel and inhumane treatment. Can you imagine? How do you explain this behavior...except for describing it as "pure, undiluted hatred."

[sadfan52]

This is not a memorial fitting Michael Jackson. It will be great for all the 'family & friends" who have 30% of Staple center but what about the 100's thousands of MJ loyal fans who have been told to "STAY HOME & WATCH IT ON TV". R U SERIOUS? I realize it takes alot to organize this but they have alot of resouces & money. Would their friends like to watch the service on TV? NO

[tora]

They are having a private ceremony next week for close friends and family....

[Carmichael]

I agree also with you....

[harriettubman]

It is impossible to accomodate millions of people. Just impossible. Watch it at home or catch another memorial for him in another city. There are people coming from other countries as well. This is just not possible to accomodate all those people. Some fans are expecting a bit too much now.

[joy316]

I agree! I've never heard of anyone remotely considering shutting down a funeral or memorial service. I am appalled and disappointed that LA would not allow the people that Michael cared about most after his family to merely stand outside and pay their respect to the greatest entertainer who ever lived.

[Tiffini Williams]

If you've been paying any attention to the news coverage, you'd know that it's not Jackson family's fault or their requests for people to stay home. If anything, they're probably ticked that more people aren't able to celebrate and mourn their son, brother, father, uncle....Michael Jackson. And the nerve of you to take any shots at them during this horrific time.

[tmpa girl]

This is the best the Jackson family could do?? Requests are to stay home and watch it on T.V.?? Thousands upon millions of people have been MJ fans throughout his career and the family is limiting the amount of people who can pay respects?? 20,000 people is not alot of people when you factor in family members, friends and celebrities attending, the public will be pushed out!!

This is BOGUS!!

[LiveLifeNow]

It is pretty good for planning a hugh event in a couple of days and coordinating with government over a holiday weekend. If they want to get him buried within a week sounds pretty good to me. Maybe they can plan on his birthday at the end of August.

[tora]

Considering his sudden tragic death, and given the limited amount of time, I think they came up with a great plan to accommodate his fans.

[joy316]

Accommodate? I think this is an insult to the fans--we were told to "STAY HOME"

[Carmichael]

I agree with your comment, however, i think it also goes hand in hand with the approval of the government of the state of California...

[harriettubman]

Are you serious???? People are flying in from overseas too!!! People want their own selfish attitude to come first with this memorial. 20,000 is just a sampling. It is going to be carazy in L.A. on Tuesday. Wait and see. The Grammys have nothing on what's to come.