From the NY Post:
MOB SCENE EXPECTED AT JACKSON FUNERAL
LA BRACES FOR ONSLAUGHT OF 1M FANS
He'll be the King of Chaos.
Authorities fear that up to 1 million Jackophiles will descend on Los Angeles tomorrow and wreak mayhem, even though only a tiny fraction of them will actually have tickets for the Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center -- which were being offered on eBay for up to $20,000 late last night.
Airlines and hotels have reported being in the grip of Jackomania as momentum builds for the big day among lucky ticketholders and wannabes.
Adding to the frenzy was news that the 8,750 ticket winners, who landed two free ducats apiece, could peddle their extra one.
Last night, several scalpers attempted to sell codes that can be used to pick up wristbands for both tickets to the service today. Many of the offers were taken down from the site. An eBay spokesman did not return calls for comment.
As for the ticket winners:
"It's surreal!" squealed Deka Motanya, 27, of San Francisco, who got an e-mail at 4:35 p.m. telling her, "Congratulations, your application was successful."
That prompted her to immediately Twitter, "OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!"
Local hotels were already filling up yesterday.
The Wilshire Grand Los Angeles, with 1,000 rooms, was at nearly 90 percent capacity, a rep said.
British Airways said it had a "huge influx" of reservations over the past few days from Brits hoping to make their way to the event -- at an arena that can accommodate only 20,000 people.
Local cops yesterday were building barriers around the center, and repeating their apparently unheeded advice to watch the event on TV.
Jackson died June 25 at his rented LA mansion from a suspected overdose of painkillers. A judge yesterday signed off on three more search warrants in the case, apparently to dig for more information on doctors who may have given Jackson drugs illegally.
But the probe was far from the minds of his mourners, who were planning a send-off fit for the King of Pop.
Jacko's BFF and mentor, Diana Ross, may wind up kicking off the ceremony.
And Jacko's idol, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Hudson will perform, a source told The Post.
Longtime Jacko pal Elizabeth Taylor reportedly will read the eulogy, while other guests may include Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Lionel Richie, Liza Minnelli and Aretha Franklin.
NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment announced live coverage of the event, slated to start at 1 p.m. (EDT), for a reported global viewing audience of 750 million.
Michael's brother Jermaine said there will be a private ceremony tomorrow for family before the memorial. The service will be held at Forest Lawn cemetery.
The family -- including Jacko's three children, Prince, 12, Paris, 11 and Blanket, 7 -- will then reportedly go by motorcade from the cemetery in the Hollywood Hills to the arena.
Meanwhile, Jacko's 79-year-old mom, Katherine, is due in probate court today to deal with the late star's will.
As for the children, they're "playing with their water pistols out back and holding up the best they can," said one family source.
Discuss on the STLMedia Message Board. (Registration required).
