1.6 million Jackson fans scramble for memorial tickets as probe deepens

Monday 06th July, 11:16 AM JST

LOS ANGELES —

Like a modern-day Willy Wonka tale, fans celebrated Sunday after beating the odds to win coveted tickets to Michael Jackson’s memorial service at Staples Center.

More than 1.6 million fans registered online for free in the random drawing of only 8,750 names. Each person selected will receive two tickets to Tuesday’s memorial. The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183.

“I’m in shock that it has happened,” said Deka Motanya, 27, of San Francisco. “It’s surreal.” She received an e-mail message at 4:35 p.m. notifying her, “Congratulations, your application was successful.”

She immediately Twittered: “OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!”

David Gobaud, 25, who studies computer science at Stanford University, said he didn’t believe his email was real at first. “It’s Michael Jackson, one of the greatest musical stars of all time,” he said.

Another winner was Zach Moss, a 21-year-old Chicagoan working for the summer as a DJ in Las Vegas. He said clubgoers have responded strongly to Jackson’s music since his death.

“You can play two, three Michael Jackson songs back to back and people are going to have this huge jubilation celebration,” he said. “Everyone throws their drinks up and shouts, ‘MJ!’ It’s extremely powerful.”

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door. The streets around Staples Center will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said Sunday.

Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned the ticketless to stay away: “You’ll be standing in the hot sun on a city street with a lot of other people ... but not within eyeshot of Staples.”

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 available about the actual memorial events.

Jackson’s family was planning a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, McDonnell said. He did not provide further details.

At the Wilshire Grand Los Angeles hotel about a half mile from the Staples Center, more than 90 percent of the hotel’s 1,000 rooms were booked for Monday and Tuesday night, up from about 60 percent last week.

“There’s a lot of demand right now,” said spokesman Marc Loge. “We are going to sell out.”

Ticket winners said they received a unique code and instructions to pick up their tickets Monday at Dodger Stadium.

When they pick up their tickets, a wristband will be placed on their wrists. To prevent ticket scalping, 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.

City officials are preparing for huge crowds. McDonnell would not say how many police would be on the job, but alluded to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the recent championship celebration for the Los Angeles Lakers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Jackson died at age 50 on June 25 after going into cardiac arrest in the bedroom of his rented mansion. The cause of Jackson’s death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

Also Sunday, a judge signed search warrants connected to the investigation of Jackson’s death, Los Angeles County Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said. The warrants were sealed and Parachini would not discuss any details.

Authorities are investigating allegations that Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. The powerful sedative Diprivan, which is usually administered by anesthesiologists in hospitals, was found in his home. It was not known what drugs, if any, Jackson obtained from doctors.

More than a week after his death, tributes and accolades keep coming. Madonna had a Jackson impersonator dance to “Wanna Be Starting Something” at her concert Saturday in the same London arena where he was to stage his comeback.

The Rev Al Sharpton called for nationwide “love vigils” for Jackson, asking people to gather in schools, community centers and churches to watch the memorial service and talk about the pop star’s “message” instead of the “mess” surrounding his death.

The memorial service will be broadcast live on five television networks.

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Wire reports

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12 Comments

Samuraiiki at 07:33 AM JST - 6th July

He wanted us to beat alcoholism but he could not beat drug dependency himself.
VOR at 09:50 AM JST - 6th July

PT Barnum would approve. Nothing like a freak show to draw in a crowd.
SuperLib at 11:57 AM JST - 6th July

Well, believe it or not, I was one of the winners....heh. I just started the eBay listing....
Madverts at 10:26 PM JST - 6th July

Super,

I'd say you're getting the beers in, but methinks there's a wrist-band thing going on when you go to collect the ticket ;)

Still, I'm sure there's a way to sell 'em for OMG OMG OMG money.
SuperLib at 10:54 PM JST - 6th July

There's not much I can do. The tickets are in my name and you need a photo ID to pick them up. I actually researched flights leaving today to LA but I couldn't make it to Tokyo or Osaka in time. I thought I could use one ticket myself and sell the other and have my trip paid for.

I'm actually not joking. I really did win tickets...heh. I'm joking about the eBay listing, tho. I'm going to call some ticket brokers in LA tomorrow and see if there's anything I can do.
usaexpat at 11:15 PM JST - 6th July

Weird and kinda sad that even his funeral is going to be a circus. I hope the guy finds peace now, his life is a study in how fame and fortune don't necessarily make for a happy person.
Madverts at 11:50 PM JST - 6th July

"I actually researched flights leaving today to LA but I couldn't make it to Tokyo or Osaka in time."

When you've sold your ticket for the price I think it's worth then, as you know, I can solve all your slow transport problems.... :D

I'd say screw it and list it anyway - but I guess the ticket will never get to the states in time....
SuperLib at 01:10 AM JST - 7th July

The ticket is in the States waiting for me to pick it up....that's the problem. :)
Madverts at 01:17 AM JST - 7th July

Oh yeah....

Get it listed man, what are you waiting for!
SuperLib at 02:45 AM JST - 7th July

You don't get it...heh. I have to personally arrive at Dodger Stadium before 6 PM today with my Photo ID to pick up the tickets which are waiting for me. It's physically impossible for me to get to Dodger Stadium in that time, so I cannot receive the tickets to sell, and no one else can pick them up.

There's nothing I can do. It was pretty silly for them to send out acceptance emails less than a day before you're supposed to pick up the tickets..... My only chance at this point is a full scale riot at Dodger Stadium which causes them to delay the ceremony. I'm fine with that as long as no one gets hurt...heh.
Madverts at 05:04 AM JST - 7th July

I'm still dealing with the fact you beat the odds. Isn't their family with your last name that can get there in time....? They aren't that far from LA....

...why the hell didn't you say something earlier? Pilots license and the Cessna are in order ;D
HonestDictator at 05:35 AM JST - 8th July

Heh, I know my aunt is probably freaking out about this. She's an MJackson FANATIC... stalker type A lol.

Already the scammers and scalpers are tryin to make crazy money off of it.