Jackson's body on way to Staples center

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's body is on its way to the memorial service at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, sources involved in the planning said.

Seven men wheel out a golden casket covered in red flowers from Forest Lawn's Hall of Liberty.

Jackson's family and closest friends attended a gathering at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills on Tuesday morning before going to the public memorial.
Jackson's family and friends were at the chapel, which can hold about 1,000 people. Shortly thereafter seven suited men wheeled out a golden casket covered in red flowers from Forest Lawn's Hall of Liberty.
Teddy Riley, a singer who worked closely with Jackson on several albums, said Jackson family members told him the casket will be driven in a procession from Forest Lawn to the arena.
A second source familiar with the planning also said the King of Pop's body would be delivered to the arena.
"It wouldn't be fair for the fans who are going to appear and be here at the Staples Center not to see his casket," Riley said. Watch Riley talk about working with Jackson »
An army of fans poured in to Los Angeles from places far-flung, hoping to collectively mourn their idol in a massive ceremony.
Thousands appeared to be on hand, but the atmosphere was peaceful, almost festive. People waited patiently, talking to each other, taking pictures and singing Jackson songs. Some fans were excited, others somber, as they entered the arena.
Parking lots in the area raised their prices, some as high as $30. Airports in Southern California saw a spike in bookings. And several movie theaters in the area announced special screenings of the event, which also will be carried live by some television networks and Web sites.
Police put up concrete barriers around the center, allowing only fans with tickets to the star-studded event to enter. See gallery as people prepare for service »
The first fans -- those holding the best seats -- began entering the arena at 7:30 a.m. The service is set to start at 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET).
Deka Motanya, a San Francisco, California, woman who won tickets in the computer lottery, posted a message on Twitter just before 9 a.m. saying she had reached her "not-too-bad seats." "(M)ichael jackson music playing. people filling in; very organized w/ assigned seats" her message said. Watch fans pay tribute at Neverland »
The stage is set up on one end of the Staples Center's converted basketball court.

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Wide steps lead up from both sides and two transparent podiums are posed on either side. Drums sit in the background and small floral arrangements rest against the front of the stage, where three rows of chairs form a semicircle.
Police would not say what kind of security measures they have put in place. The cash-strapped city has said it will foot the bill for law enforcement. Watch police say fans without tickets should stay home »
Until the last minute, the Jackson family remained tight-lipped about where the singer will be buried, but signs pointed to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills after several carloads of people, La Toya Jackson among them, visited the cemetery Monday. Details: Who will be there; map of area »
The Staples event is expected to feature singers Mariah Carey, Usher and Stevie Wonder.
Also participating will be basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson; singers Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Smokey Robinson; and activists Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton, according to an announcement released on behalf of the Jackson family. Watch more on the star-studded lineup »
Two notable absences will be actress Elizabeth Taylor, a longtime Jackson friend, and Debbie Rowe, Jackson's former wife and the mother of his two older children.

Taylor, in a message posted on Twitter and verified by CNN, said she declined an invitation to speak because she "cannot be part of the public whoopla."
"I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others," Taylor tweeted. "How I feel is between us. Not a public event."
Rowe planned on attending but decided against it, said lawyer Marta Almli. Watch report on custody of Jackson's children »
"The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael's legacy," Almli said.
Fans congregated in downtown Los Angeles, outside the Staples Center regardless of whether they had tickets.
On Monday, organizers used a computer to choose 8,750 names from 1.6 million people who registered for tickets online. Each received a pair of tickets, for a total of 17,500 tickets. Watch fans receive tickets »
Just 11,000 of those are for seats inside the arena. The other 6,500 are for viewing the memorial telecast across the street at the Nokia Theater. The Jackson family set aside an additional 9,000 Staples Center seats to give out, organizers said.


Source :CNN