Michael Jackson: Demand increased for memorial tickets

Michael Jackson: Demand increased for memorial tickets

Over half a million fans around the world have applied for 17,500 free tickets to Michael Jackson's public memorial service that is scheduled to be held next week. On Friday the organizers said so when a massive security operation got underway.

The life and music of Michael Jackson, who died of sudden cardiac arrest last Thursday, will be celebrated on Tuesday at the Staples Center, a basketball arena in downtown Los Angeles.

On Friday the officials unveiled an ambitious on-line lottery that is giving opportunity to the fans to attend either the televised service at the arena or watch the proceedings on a big screen at the nearby Nokia Theater.

However within minutes, the alloted server got crashed. The officials warned that additional disruptions were likely as fans logged on ahead of the Saturday deadline at 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT Sunday).

"You might want to consider watching this from the comfort of your own home," added  Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who is doubling as the city's acting mayor.

The ceremony will also be streamed on-line.

A wide area of the venues in downtown Los Angeles will be blocked off for the 10 a.m. (1 p.m. EDT) event. Both local and state law-enforcement agencies have been marshaled for duty.

A local news-radio station reported that over 1,400 officers from the Los Angeles Police Department alone have been asked to volunteer for duty on Monday and Tuesday. The LAPD, which has about 9,000 officers in total, has declined to comment on the report or to reveal a staffing number.

A Jackson family spokesman also refused to provide details of the memorial service. However it is also said that there would not be a funeral procession and Jackson's body would not be at the memorial.

The funeral arrangements have not been disclosed. However the security has been beefed up at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills mortuary, where his body is believed to be held.

The officials were also tight-lipped about the cost of the memorial service, and who would pay for it.

Like other U.S. cities, Los Angeles is strapped for cash in the global recession and similar questions about public tax revenues being spent for such an elaborate ceremony surfaced last month when a $2 million celebration was given for the champion Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team.

That event, which attracted over 500,000 people, was eventually funded through private donations.

The city has already budgeted for LAPD overtime. Perry further added that officials would "deeply appreciate" help to offset incremental costs, such as transportation, sanitation and staging.

All the winners of the tickets will be contacted on Sunday and directed to pick up a pair of tickets and wristbands on Monday. No tickets will be sold. The massive demand raised the question of counterfeiting or scalping, thereby drawing pleas from organizers for fans to act responsibly.
Jackson's last performance was at the Staples Center. The night before he died of sudden cardiac arrest last Thursday, he rehearsed for the tour at the venue.