LOS ANGELES, SATURDAY (AFP) - Fans heading to Los Angeles for Michael Jackson's memorial extravaganza have been urged to stay away as organizers said tickets for the event would be allocated by an online lottery.
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| Fans cry by a memorial for deceased pop star Michael Jackson outside the Jackson family home in Encino, California July 3. REUTERS |
Pop icon Jackson's sudden death on June 25 sparked a worldwide outpouring of grief and hundreds of thousands of devotees are expected to descend on Los Angeles for Tuesday's memorial at the Staples Center.
However in a clear attempt to deter large numbers of ticketless fans from besieging the venue and creating a logistical nightmare, city officials said Friday the entire area would be put on lockdown.
“If you do not have a ticket ... not only will you not be allowed at these venues, you will not be allowed in this area,” Los Angeles Police Department chief Earl Paysinger said.
The warning came as officials revealed tickets for the event would be distributed via an Internet lottery, with fans registering at the Staples Center's website to enter a draw from Friday onwards.
Some 11,000 tickets would be made available for the event inside the main venue while an additional 6,500 tickets would be distributed for fans watching a live feed at the neighboring Nokia Theater.
Within minutes of the draw being announced the Staples Center website had crashed. Representatives for the Jackson family later said the site had received 500 million hits in less than two hours.
No information about where Jackson would be buried or what Tuesday's service would comprise was given.
Investigation so far
The investigation into Jackson's death has zeroed in on the star's possible use of prescription medications.
A law enforcement source confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that propofol, a powerful sedative commonly used as a general anesthetic, had been found by investigators at Jackson's home. |
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