Michael Jackson: Tribute Event, Staples Center

UPDATE: Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service, ticket information and details.

From TMZ:

Michael Jackson's memorial service will be held at two separate venues on Tuesday morning -- the main event will be at the Staples Center and a simulcast will play at the Nokia Theatre.

A lottery has been set up for fans to obtain the free tickets -- and they can sign up for random drawing on the Staples Center website ... good luck logging on.

17,500 tickets are available for the event -- 11,000 for Staples and 6,500 for Nokia -- which will be divvied out 2 per person. If you are one of the 8,750 people selected, you will then be alerted on Sunday with further instructions.

Oh yeah ... only U.S. citizens can apply.

Also, the family wouldn't say if Michael's body would be at the memorial.

_____________________

A week ago this afternoon, Michael Jackson died.

Although no funeral or memorial plans have been made public, there is information about a tribute event.

From FOX News:

An event honoring Michael Jackson is set for Tuesday morning at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, FOX News has learned.

Sources close to the dicussions tell FOX News that a Jackson even will take place at 10 am at the downtown arena where the Los Angeles Lakers play.

It wasn't immediately clear if a funeral or a public memorial was being discussed for the entertainer — or both, a source told the Associated Press. The person said all talks are preliminary, and no decisions have been made.

Speculation about the potential location of a memorial had ricocheted during the day from the Staples Center to the Los Angeles Coliseum to the Nokia Theater. Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but that it wouldn't be at Neverland.

Jackson's older brother Jermaine Jackson expressed home in an interview early Tuesday morning that Michael would be buried at his Neverland Ranch north of Los Angeles. The elimination of the proposed Neverland memorial came as a blow to many Jackson fans who had already descended on the estate in hope of attending a public viewing.

...Many of Jackson's die-hard fans refused to believe that the family would bury their most famous son without acknowledging the supporters who helped propel him to superstardom.

"I can't believe they wouldn't do something for his fans," said Rosie Padron, who had roped off a spot just outside the Neverland gates. "Michael loved his fans."

I'm sure this tribute event will be filmed and will be available for sale.

I just hope they don't make it a pay-per-view.

I can't help but think that Joe Jackson and the various handlers are thinking of ways to profit.

I sincerely hope that's not the case.

It must be so difficult for the family to agree on an appropriate, respectful way for the public to take part in remembering Michael Jackson.

As Janet Jackson said at the BET Awards, Michael isn't an icon to them, he's family.

He's a brother, son, uncle, and father above all else.

It must be a painful burden when private grief has to be played out in public.