(LA Officials are concerned about the large emerging crowds and the cost of Jackson's planned Public Memorial service.)
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(MSNBC Reporters discuss Michael's amazing last rehearsal footage. He looked very fit and well.)
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LOS ANGELES - More than half a million fans from around the world applied for 17,500 free tickets to Michael Jackson's public memorial service next week, organizers said on Friday as a massive security operation got underway.
The life and music of the self-proclaimed "king of pop," who died of sudden cardiac arrest last Thursday, will be celebrated on Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Officials on Friday unveiled an online lottery that will allow fans to attend either the televised service at the arena or watch the proceedings on a big screen at the nearby Nokia Theater.
But within minutes, the staplescenter.com server crashed. More than 524,000 applications had been received by 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
A wide area around the venues in downtown Los Angeles will be blocked off for the event. Both local and state law-enforcement agencies have been marshaled for duty.
The ceremony will also streamed online.
"You might want to consider watching this from the comfort of your own home," said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who is doubling as the city's acting mayor.
A Jackson family spokesman declined to provide details of the memorial service, but said there would not be a funeral procession and Jackson's body would not be at the memorial.
Los Angeles city officials are preparing for massive crowds downturn during the event.
Sealed-off streets:
A local news-radio station reported that more than 1,400 officers from the Los Angeles Police Department alone have been asked to volunteer for duty on Monday and Tuesday. The LAPD, which has about 9,000 officers in total, declined to comment on the report or to reveal a staffing number.
Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger says anywhere from a quarter-million to 700,000 people may try to reach the arena, even though a wide area around Staples Center will be sealed off to those without tickets.
But public safety officials appeared to assume their requests to stay home would have little effect. Since Jackson's death, fans have flocked to Jackson sites from Los Angeles to his Neverland Ranch in rural Santa Barbara County.
Tim Leiweke, CEO of AEG Live, announced Friday that 17,500 tickets will be made available to fans via a Web lottery to attend the service. Eleven-thousand tickets will be issued for the Staples Center and an additional 6,500 will offer seats to watch a live simulcast at the nearby Nokia Theater.
Registration began at 10 a.m. PT on Friday and will continue until 6 p.m. PT on Saturday.
A computer program will randomly select 8,750 names to receive two tickets for one venue or the other, Leiweke said. Those selected to receive tickets will be notified between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday. They will be given a code to use at the Ticketmaster.com Web site, which will give them further instructions on where to go Monday morning to get the tickets and wristbands enabling them to enter the venues, Leiweke said.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s brother Jermaine told CNN’s Larry King that there will be a private ceremony for family and some special guests before the public memorial.
Access Hollywood confirmed Friday that the private funeral will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
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Sources: MSNBC, The Wrap, AEG Live, Google Maps
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