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British influx expected for Michael Jackson's memorial
06.07.09
Thousands of Michael Jackson fans in the United States were braced for a British invasion ahead of this week's memorial service for the King of Pop.
More than 1.6 million fans registered for tomorrow's service and heard last night whether they were among the lucky few to win a ticket for the event.
Celebrity gossip website TMZ.com, which first broke the news of the 50-year-old's death two weeks ago, declared: "The British are coming..." amid reports of a surge in airline ticket sales.
But a British Airways spokeswoman said that while flights from London to Los Angeles for the beginning of this week were "very busy" there were still seats available.
Police and city officials in Los Angeles warned all those without tickets to stay away from the Staples Centre and said as many as 700,000 people may try to reach the arena.
Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Jackson's family was planning a "private family function" at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. No further details were available.
Urging fans without tickets to stay away, he told reporters: "We looked at other funerals around the world and different numbers that have come out for that.
"We've heard that for Elvis Presley's funeral there were about 75,000 for that, for Princess Diana there were about 250,000, so you can estimate that Michael Jackson with his popularity around the world, there will be significant numbers that intend to come out.
"Whether they hopefully will take that advice that this is not the best place to be unless you have a ticket, we'll have to wait and see."
A spokesman for the Staples Centre said 8,750 names were being chosen in the draw, with each person receiving two tickets and notified by email last night.
The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183.
The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Centre, with 6,500 seats in the Nokia Theatre overflow section next door.
Before the ticket drawing, officials of AEG, the owner and operator of the Staples Centre "scrubbed" the entries to eliminate duplicates and any suspected of being made by automated systems, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said.
Winners will receive a unique code and instructions on how to pick up their tickets at an off-site distribution centre today.
A wristband will be placed on winners' wrists and both that and the ticket will be needed for entry.
Jackson's friend Jesse Jackson told TMZ.com fans should "take the time to mourn" and added: "There is so much grief and hurt."
No details were given about the actual memorial events. The ceremony will not be shown on the arena's giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.
On Saturday night, Madonna paid tribute to the superstar as she described him as one of the greatest performers the world has ever known.
A huge picture of Jackson as a child was beamed above the stage during a short dance melody dedicated to the star as the Queen of Pop performed at the O2 Arena in London.
One of her dancers dressed in Jackson's trademark black hat moonwalked across the stage to the delight of the huge crowd packed into the arena.
Short versions of two of Jackson's greatest hits, Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin Somethin, were also performed.
Madonna then turned to the crowd and said: "To one of the greatest performers the world has ever known - Michael Jackson."
Jackson, who died on June 25 after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest, had been due to perform 50 concerts at the O2 Arena starting later this month.
