88K People Already Registered for Tix for Kobe and Gigi Bryant's Memorial
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4:10 PM PT — A source with knowledge tells us more than 88,000 people have already registered for memorial tickets in the first 5 hours. We’re told that number is expected to grow to several hundred thousand by Monday’s deadline.
Staples Center has a capacity of around 20,000 people — with many of those tickets to be claimed by friends, family, NBA officials and others — so there will be a limited number of seats and a lottery to land one.
11:15 AM PT — The L.A. Lakers just released ticket info for the Kobe/Gigi Celebration of Life. People who want tickets can register online right now at Ticketmaster. The tickets are going for 3 different prices — $224, 2 for $224, and as we told you, the upper deck seats will go for $24.02. The 24, of course, is Kobe’s number, and 2 is Gigi’s.
People who register will receive a code Tuesday and on Wednesday at 10 AM the tickets will be released for sale. If the demand exceeds the number of tickets — which is almost certain — fans will be selected at random to participate in the sale.
Proceeds will go to Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
The event will not be shown on the big screens outside Staples and law enforcement has told us they will block the streets off, but people will be able to watch online and on TV. The Lakers are urging fans not to go to the Staples Center if they don’t have a ticket for the event, on Feb. 24.
The plans for Kobe and Gigi Bryant‘s Staples Center memorial are getting locked down and details for the service will be unveiled Friday.
Sources familiar with the planning tell us event organizers are working closely with Kobe’s family to finalize who will speak at the service, and which singers and entertainers will take part.
We’re told tickets will be available to the general public, although there will be a number of invited guests who get tickets first, including family, friends, players, NBA officials and, we’re told, season ticket holders.
We’re told the seats that remain will be sold to the public at a price that reflects the memories of Kobe and Gigi. We’re told one of the options being discussed was to sell the upper bowl seats at $24.02 — 24 representing Kobe’s number and 2 representing Gigi’s. The net proceeds will go to a charity selected by the family. Whatever the price ends up being, our sources say it will reflect and honor Kobe and Gigi.
We don’t know which charity will be the beneficiary, but the Mamba Sports Academy was recently renamed Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. As we reported … Vanessa Bryant says the decision for the name change — “Because there is no #24 without #2.”
Our sources say there will be extra precautions taken in printing the tickets to make sure they can’t be scalped.
The memorial is set to be televised live on multiple networks, and as we told you … the streets around Staples will be closed for security and traffic control, so law enforcement is encouraging people who don’t get tickets to stay home and watch it on TV.
Though the memorial is being held Feb. 24, Kobe and Gigi were buried in a private family service near the family’s Orange County home last week.
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Days later, Vanessa opened up about losing both her husband and her 13-year-old daughter, saying … “I can’t process both at the same time. It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me.”
She added … “It feels wrong. Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn’t being able to have that opportunity?! I’m so mad. She had so much life to live.”
She concluded by saying … “God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over. Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all.”
Originally Published — 1:00 AM PT
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