Wanna attend the Michael Jackson memorial? Here's how to get free tickets

Details of next Tuesday's public memorial for Michael Jackson in Los Angeles have finally been released by the owners of Staples Center.

Here's the scoop: 17,500 free tickets will be available to the general public. There also will be a free worldwide video feed. Just 11,000 tickets will be for seats inside Staples Center. The other 6,500 will be for seats in the adjacent Nokia Theatre, where fans will watch a simulcast, according to the Associated Press.

Still interested? Fans must register on the Web at Staplescenter.com. On Saturday evening, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each. Notifications will go out on Sunday. Those selected will obtain their tickets via Ticketmaster on Monday.

(Yes, I've entered the drawing. Keep your fingers crossed. Debby Foreman, here I come!)

[AP photo of today's official announcement]

Comments

[NJ]

Magazine Cafe www.magazinecafestore.com exclusively carrying Michael Jackson commemorative issues.

Treasure Michael Jackson for life with exclusive pictures, interviews and unknown facts about the life of the King of Pop. We are presently carrying Entertainment Weekly, Historical Collectors Edition, People - Michael Jackson Double Issue, Time Special issue, USA Today special issue, US Weekly special issue and OK Magazine.

Visit our website www.magazinecafestore.com or visit us at 15 W 37th Street (bet 5th and 6th). If you order magazines worth more than $100, you will get 5% OFF, so hurry!

[Mick in Sydney]

I was hoping to hit the 100M lottery here in AUS as I would offer to buy MY for 50M then have him freeze dried and put on display. Charge 500 bucks to view for 10 mins and would make a fortune. Would make the money back in two years easy, and thats without merchandising.......

[Liz]

Why were FL residents ineligible to win the memorial tickets via the lottery system? I'm wondering if there are any lawyers out there that know the details. Apparently NY,FL, and RI residents were ineligible.

[Russ]

The Monkey or Skeletor is DEAD!
That's right a once very good looking young man that got hooked on drugs and trying to look white -- he must have really hated his parents and was ashamed of being black to disfigure his looks with what his parents gave him at birth.

It's sad that he died but he is NO way a Princess Diana or Elvis - with this in your face media is the only thing driving this nonsense.

The only reason anyone cares in because they want to hear about the drug abuse and how he was able to obtain the drugs and who will be responsible since the one that should be held accountible and arrested has died. So now they want to point fingers elsewhere, if you abuse drugs and you die from it your estate should be required to forfeit at least 50% to drug prevention programs.

[Kim]

What the heck is up with Jermaine's hair? On the Matt Lauer interview it looked like the sides were painted on to his head.

[jb]

Tickets for a funeral? did I read this correctly.OMG what will be next,tickets for executions.
The Jackson's are like a carnival act,(thanks to Joe),now there sending Michael out on that note.
Stay tuned:Next week Joe will be confessing to being a pervert.

[michael Jackson ultimate]

I still can’t get over it. I think maybe it will really sink in once he’s buried, but for now, I will continue to watch old videos on YouTube and rediscover my love for his musical and dance genius. I wish I could move like him.
Trent, your last sentence, about him getting a final world tour, was really touching.

[Ralph]

That place ought to be a freakshow.
I'm willing to bet we hear stories of people robbing people and maybe even somebody being killed for their tickets and wristband.

[John]

Innocent men don't pay people millions of dollars not to talk.

[Gina]

I think Michael's noses and overall appearance looked best between the years 1985 and 1990 -- it was all downhill after there.

[ellen]

Jan - He was not found innocent - he was found not guilty. BIG difference. I believe he was guilty because after the trial two of the jurors said that they too thought he was guilty. He was found not guilty only because he was Michael Jackson. Fan support let a guilty man go free. I agree with one of your comments - the one about brainwashed idiots.

[Cat]

Spearsy,

You're doing an excellent job on all the breaking MJ craziness. I really hope you `win` tickets so you can cover it LIVE for the 80s Nation.

It'll be an ~~ADVENTURE ~~

[James]

When Elvis died there was no E! , TMZ, Twitter, or 24/7 pap coverage like there is today. It was a different world back then.

[DerekT]

MJ did have a lapse of judgement allowing kids to sleep in his bed, even if nothing sexual happened. It was just asking for problems. Especially after the first accusation. He is gone and a higher power will judge him now for whatever he did in his life.
I will not be going to see the funeral, not even on TV. I wasn't a fan, even though I do like a few of his songs.

[Davian]

I know that it is stating the obvious but when Elvis died there was no CNN Fox News or MSNBC to provide the coverage that we now can get

[Jan]

I just do not understand why people believe that MJ was a peodophile. He was found innocent, he was a target, he was thee most famous man in the world where people knew him even in places where there is no electricity in the world. People who beleive this about MJ are those who are really blind about the things that go in the world and are those who have never experienced life and unaware of what goes on at the top. Or maybe they are just plain jealous. He had it real bad. WHY CANT PEOPLE OPEN THEIR MINDS? Sad that the establishment can so easily pull the wool over your eyes, no wounder why this world is full of so many brainwashed idiots.

[Mic]

GOOD GOD! PLANT THIS GUY ALREADY! His only contribution to the arts was making it acceptable to prance around in publc and fondle yourself. If anyone else did it, they'd be arrested. How about some time for those who really deserve it, like our military personnel getting blown up in Iraq. MJ isn't that relevant. ENOUGH ALREADY!

[DerekT]

When Elvis died, there wasn't 24 hour news coverage, so it wasn't dragged out near as long. I was just a kid then, but my parents were huge Elvis fans so I remember his passing. Also remember, MJ was a huge target for the tabloids, even more so then Elvis ever was, so the coverage after his death is really no surprise adding to the fact he was on the edge of a possible comeback.

[GAGirl]

11,000 Tickets? Let the riots begin. Thankfully I am geographically far (if not far from media coverage) from this mess aka circus. Call me when I can turn my tv on again.

[Spears]

You know, the story just seems to get weirder by the day. It's impossible not to write about it. This new twist -- about an ABBA reunion -- is proof.

[Joe B.]

I'll be sooo glad when the excessive coverage of this fruitcake is over.

[Marissa]

I'm less concerned about when he'll be laid to rest, shot off into space, ashes placed within his wax character at Madame Toussauds. When will the non-stop television coverage stop? How many specials can E! have?
Spearsy, I know you're just bringing it to us. I'm not blaming you.
At least you keep it short and sweet.

[Keith TY]

Is Joseph Jackson in charge of all the news coverage because this seems to be dragging out. I don't remember when Elvis died. . .was the news coverage this much?

Wasn't there some governor caught cheating? He seems to have lucked out with the news coverage shifting to Jackson.