The only way to get anything larger would require going outdoors (Staples can hold about 20,000 for "concerts"). Doing something like this outdoors would require MUCH more infrastructure (video displays and audio in particular - both of which are MUCH easier to hang from Staples's rafters than try to set up at say the Coliseum) and would require a more extensive setup. Yes, I know that they just held the Lakers celebration at the Coliseum, but I believe to do an MJ tribute properly, they will need more than what they had for the Lakers.

I am guessing that they will be utilizing the same staging that was already in place at Staples for the rehearsals that were going on there already (they rehearsed there the night before his passing and the crew was already set up and in place for another rehearsal the day of his passing).

Also, Staples's will have much better infrastructure to handle the broadcast on such short notice.

The feed is being offered free of charge to any station/network who wants to carry it.

No matter how big the venue, there would have been ticket scalpers. There are always. ticket. scalpers. for everything.

Your two tickets were won by two Australians.

I just saw them on the morning show here, at the airport about to leave. The interviewer asked them "How big of a MJ fan are you" and the infuriating answer was:

"Oh, we're not really much fans of his, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, sooo..."

Well, buddy, hitting yourself in the face with a board studded with razor blades is a once-in-a-lifetime experience too !!! Why not try that next !!!!!

I apologise on behalf of all Ashtrayans. :rolleyes:

Wow... That is the epitome of douchiness. There are millions of people who want to be there. Even though I'm not one of them, I still am appalled: why burn up two spots that could have gone to someone who would have truly appreciated them?

Look out, Karma's comin' and she's wearing steel toed boots!

I suggest a series of fights to the death. Only then will we know who truly wants it more.

Dual! Because, Michael Jackson's death is worth at least one other person - at the VERY least!

I'm assuming that the choice of venue is mostly about selling stuff, be it the broadcast, souvenirs, etc. If it was about allowing the most people to pay their respects, do with him what you do with popes, presidents and princesses. Let him lie in state in some accessible venue and let everybody line up, file by and go the f*** home. With no t-shirt.

I had actually hoped that would have been the idea originally. But, I hope the venue doesn't sell souvenirs.

He won't be at Staples anyways. He will be buried at Forest Lawn tomorrow.

Tickets get sold to celebrity tributes and memorial events all the time and that's pretty much all that this is. The organizers should have sold them in a Dutch auction with proceeds going to charity if they didn't want them scalped without seeming craven.