Sports & Celebrity Newswire

Details of Michael Jackson’s funeral remained sketchy over the past few days, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Jackson’s funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at The Los Angeles Staples Center. AEG Live owns both The Staples Center and The Nokia Theatre which are next to each other. The funeral will utilize both facilities and the surrounding plaza.

Earlier plans for Neverland to be used as the site to show Michael Jackson’s body did not pan out. The media reported that the Jackson family were planning a public viewing of Michael’s body at his former Neverland Ranch so fans could say a final goodbye.

Instead, relatives and Jackson’s advisors have chosen to hold a public memorial at The Staples Center which holds a 20,000 capacity. The Staples Center is where Michael was rehearsing his comeback show a day before his death, reports RadarOnline.com.

Roger Friedman of The Hollywood Reporter writes that AEG will put gigantic screens outside the facilities for the thousands who will not get inside. No word yet on how ticketing will be handled. In order to do this, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, scheduled to begin its run at Staples on July 8, had to be persuaded to postpone moving into Staples by several hours. Somehow it seems appropriate. It will be a day for the Greatest Show on Earth to follow The Biggest Funeral in History.