Jackson fans savour tickets win

Michael Jackson fans who beat the odds began to celebrate today after winning coveted tickets to the pop star’s memorial service at the Staples Centre.

More than 1.6 million fans registered online for free in the random drawing of only 8,750 names.

Each person selected will receive two tickets to tomorrow’s memorial. The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183.

“I’m in shock that it has happened,” said Deka Motanya, 27, of San Francisco. “It’s surreal.”

David Gobaud, 25, said he didn’t believe his e-mail was real at first.

“It’s Michael Jackson, one of the greatest musical stars of all time,” he said.

Another winner was Zach Moss, a 21-year-old DJ in Las Vegas. He said clubgoers have responded strongly to Jackson’s music since his death.

“You can play two, three Michael Jackson songs back to back and people are going to have this huge jubilation celebration,” he said. “Everyone throws their drinks up and shouts, ’MJ!’ It’s extremely powerful.”

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Centre plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door. The streets around the Staples Centre will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said Sunday.

Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned the ticketless to stay away: “You’ll be standing in the hot sun on a city street with a lot of other people ... but not within eyeshot of Staples.”

The ceremony will not be shown on Staples’ giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city. No details were available about the actual memorial events.

Jackson’s family was planning a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, Mr McDonnell said. He did not provide further details.