More than 1.6 million fans wait to learn whether they are among the lucky 8,750 randomly chosen ones who would win access to Michael Jackson's memorial service Tuesday at Staples Center.

The event is expected to tie the downtown area in Los Angeles into a knot of fans, traffic, celebrities and media outlets.

Fans registered online Sunday for free in the random drawing of only 8,750 names. Each person selected will receive two tickets. The odds of getting a ticket are about one in 183.

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

Meanwhile, police and city officials warn people without tickets to stay away and recommend fans watch the service on TV.

Jackson died at age 50 on June 25 after going into cardiac arrest in the bedroom of his rented mansion. The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

Source: Xinhua