Lottery Planned for 17,500 Free Jacko Memorial Tickets

Organizers will give out 17,500 free tickets to Tuesday’s Michael Jackson memorial at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, the Times reports. The drawing will occur Sunday, and ticket-seekers can register online. Trying to avoid a rush, the promoter kept some details secret, saying only “there will be no distribution of tickets at Staples Center” or the surrounding entertainment complex. The event will also be streamed online and broadcast on television.

A city councilwoman suggested fans might be better off watching at home, and a Jackson family spokesman warned—perhaps futilely—against scalping the free tickets. “Those who would take advantage of this shame on them,” he said. A large section of downtown Los Angeles will be off-limits to all but ticket holders on the day of the memorial. (More entertainment stories.)