After plans for a grand public memorial at the Neverland ranch fizzled out, Michael Jackson's funeral may now be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles next Tuesday.
British tabloid Sun, which published a leaked report of the autopsy conducted on the pop star, quoted US sources and claimed that the service would start at 10am at the arena, home to the LA Lakers basketball team.
The venue, owned by AEG Live, organisers of Jackson's comeback gigs at London's O2 arena, has a seating capacity of 20,000 and is expected to be packed to full capacity. AEG also plans to put up giant screens outside the venue for the thousands who will not be able get inside.
The Los Angeles Times first reported the possibility of the ceremony being held at the Staples centre, citingplans for a massive law enforcement deployment on Tuesday morning. However, the changed plans have disappointed thousands of Jackson's devotees, who had gathered near his California ranch expecting to pay their final goodbye to their idol.
The sprawling 5,800-acre property, which Jackson named after JM Barrie's fictitious world of Peter Pan, was a symbol of Jackson's success — and his excesses. The property has become a makeshift memorial for thousands of Jackson's fans, who have been coming from different parts of the world to pay their tributes to the late star.
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