Jackson memorial gets 1.6 million ticket requests
LOS ANGELES — The more than 1.6 million fans who registered for tickets to Michael Jackson’s memorial service will finally get word Sunday on whether they will be among the lucky few to get tickets for the ceremony.
Fans had to register for free at the Staples Center Web site between 10 a.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday for the random drawing of only 8,750 names.
Each person selected will receive two tickets and will be notified by e-mail after 11 a.m. PDT Sunday, according to a Staples Center news release.
The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door.
Before the drawing, officials of AEG, the owner and operator of the Staples Center, will “scrub” the entries to eliminate duplicates and any suspected of being made by automated systems or “go-bots,” Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said in a statement.
Winners will receive a unique code and instructions on how to pick up their tickets Monday at an off-site distribution center. When they pick up their tickets, a wristband will be placed on their wrists.
Fans must have both the ticket and the wristband to enter Staples Center on Tuesday. Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered with will be voided.
Sunshine said those steps are being taken to prevent ticket-scalping.
City officials are preparing for huge crowds. Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger says as many as 700,000 people may try to reach the arena, even though a wide area around Staples Center will be sealed off to people without tickets.
City Councilwoman Jan Perry strongly urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on television. The ceremony will not be shown on Staples’ giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.
No details were given about the actual memorial events, which come 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.
Related News
Dozens lined up at ballpark ahead of Jackson's Ind. hometown memorial celebrationJuly 10th, 2009 Dozens line up for Jackson Ind. hometown memorialGARY, Ind.
LA officials want reports on revenue, expenses stemming from Jackson memorial serviceJuly 10th, 2009 LA wants reports on Jackson memorial cost, revenueLOS ANGELES — The financial fallout from the Michael Jackson memorial service continues, with Los Angeles city officials calling for reviews on who should pick up the tab for municipal services related to the event. Councilman Dennis Zine said Friday he wants a report on how much the city spent on police overtime, sanitation and traffic control for the service, which was attended by some 17,000 fans at the Staples Center on Tuesday.
Dozens line up at ballpark ahead of Jackson's Ind. hometown memorial celebrationJuly 10th, 2009 Dozens wait for Jackson's Ind. hometown memorialGARY, Ind.
Mayor: Jackson's father to attend memorial in family's hometown of Gary, Ind.July 9th, 2009 Mayor: Jackson's dad to attend Ind. hometown eventGARY, Ind.
Jackson memorial drew nearly 31 million viewers in United StatesJuly 8th, 2009 Nielsen: 30.9 million watched Jackson memorialNEW YORK — Just under 31 million people in the United States watched the Michael Jackson memorial on television. Nielsen Media Research says that's a smaller audience than for Princess Diana's funeral or President Barack Obama's inauguration — but it's still impressive in today's TV world.
Michael Jackson's public memorial service under way in Los AngelesJuly 7th, 2009 Jackson memorial service under wayLOS ANGELES — A public memorial service for Michael Jackson has begun in downtown Los Angeles. Smokey Robinson opened the memorial Tuesday morning in the Staples Center arena by reading comments from Jackson friends.
Motorcade from the home of Michael Jackson's parents has reached cemeteryJuly 7th, 2009 Jackson motorcade reaches memorial parkLOS ANGELES — A motorcade from the home of Michael Jackson's parents has reached a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills for a private service in advance of a star-studded memorial in downtown Los Angeles. Numerous vehicles under California Highway Patrol escort headed out from the parents' home shortly before 8 a.m.
Motorcade leaves home of Michael Jackson's parents, apparently heading for a memorial serviceJuly 7th, 2009 Motorcade leaves Michael Jackson's parents' homeLOS ANGELES — A motorcade has left the home of Michael Jackson's parents, apparently heading for a private service in advance of a star-studded memorial in downtown Los Angeles. Numerous vehicles under California Highway Patrol escort headed out from the San Fernando Valley property shortly before 8 a.m.
Movie theaters to carry live feed of Michael Jackson memorial service through digital networkJuly 6th, 2009 Movie theaters to show Jackson memorial serviceLOS ANGELES — Only a small number of fans will be able to attend Michael Jackson's memorial service. But others may be able to watch it in movie theaters all over the country.
Drive-through ticket process for Michael Jackson memorial goes smoothly in Los AngelesJuly 6th, 2009 Jackson memorial ticketing goes smoothlyLOS ANGELES — The ticket hand-off for Michael Jackson's public memorial service in Los Angeles has been going smoothly at Dodger Stadium. Winners of an Internet ticket lottery began exchanging vouchers for tickets in a drive-through process Monday in the stadium parking lot.
Police: Michael Jackson's family planning private ceremony at Los Angeles cemeteryJuly 5th, 2009 Jackson family plans private event at LA cemeteryLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police say Michael Jackson's family is planning a private ceremony at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said Sunday that his department is working with the Jackson family on a "private family function" at the Forest Lawn cemetery.
1.6 million Michael Jackson fans wait to learn if they won tickets to Tuesday memorial in LAJuly 5th, 2009 1.6M Jackson fans await word on memorial ticketsLOS ANGELES — The more than 1.6 million fans who registered to attend Michael Jackson's memorial service waited to learn Sunday whether they were among the lucky few to win tickets for the Tuesday ceremony. Fans registered for free at the Staples Center Web site for the random drawing of only 8,750 names.
More than 1.2 million people have registered for tickets to Michael Jackson's Tuesday memorialJuly 4th, 2009 More than 1 million seek tix for Jackson memorialLOS ANGELES — More than 1.2 million people have now registered to get tickets for Michael Jackson's memorial service next week. Only 11,000 tickets will be given out for the Tuesday service at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
LA plans for massive crowds during Michael Jackson public memorial; ticket lottery announcedJuly 3rd, 2009 LA police plan for huge crowd at Jackson memorialLOS 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.
Obama adviser Axelrod says president has written Michael Jackson's familyJune 28th, 2009 Obama aide: President has written Jackson familyWASHINGTON — A top White House adviser says President Barack Obama has written a private letter to Michael Jackson's family. David Axelrod says Obama expressed condolences to the Jacksons.
Loading ...