750,000 Fans Expected for Michael Jackson Memorial Service
Planners promise additional details on Tuesday memorial, 11,000 free tickets.
July 2, 2009 — -- Preparations for Michael Jackson's memorial service Tuesday are being made with Los Angeles city and county officials, who are anticipating a crowd of mourners that could top 750,000, according to sources involved in the planning.
Approximately 2,500 law enforcement officers are expected to be on hand to control the crowds, and fans are already pouring in to Los Angeles.
Preliminary details about Tuesday's "public memorial service celebrating the life of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop," will be announced by Jackson's concert promoter and others at a press conference Friday morning in Los Angeles, according to a public relations firm working with the Jackson family.
"Tomorrow's media briefing will provide information on how the public will be given the opportunity to register for tickets to the memorial service at Staples Center," read a Thursday evening press release from Sunshine, Sachs & Associates. "There will be 11,000 tickets distributed to the general public. All tickets will be free of charge."
Tuesday's memorial service at the Staples Center is planned for 10 a.m. PT, according to the release.
It is expected to include a musical performance that may later be released as a CD and DVD, ABC News has learned.
Even before Tuesday's memorial was confirmed, the Los Angeles airport, hotels, and local and commuter rail hubs already were seeing a rise in Jackson-related arrivals, even as the Los Angeles World Airport and other public and private partnership members measured the holiday outflow, according to a partnership member.
Meanwhile, social media monitors for officials report that "Michael Jackson memorial attendance"-related tweets on Twitter are now the most talked about topic and are accounting for 23 percent of all tweets, topping 6,000 per minute.
Planning for the memorial at the Staples Center includes the Sheriff's Department for Los Angeles County, the Port of Los Angeles, the mayor's office, the State Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol, and the LAX airport. The Los Angeles Police Department is the lead agency.
Crowds were standing on both Michael Jackson stars on Hollywood Blvd this morning -- his and the other Michael Jackson's.
Staples Center Memorial Service for Michael Jackson
The major crowd concerns are weather, and an orderly flow into the Staples Center.
The only other major concern on the horizon for law enforcement is the perennial Los Angeles gang problem.
Officials estimate that the 2,500 law officers assigned will be able to control that situation.
Earlier this year, after the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship at the Staples Center, rioting broke out on the street, which officials attributed at least in part to gangs.