July 4, 2009 - Nearly half a billion Michael Jackson fans flooded the website handing out tickets for the King of Pop's funeral at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.  Fans were told to register on www.staplescenter.com to enter the draw for 17,500 free tickets to grab a chance to attend the two-hour funeral on July 7.

Devotees swarmed the site within hours of the shock draw news, leaving the website crashing a few times.

More than 8,000 fans will learn if they have been lucky enough to land a pair of tickets on July 5, after the registration closes on July 4.

"It is the family's wish to create a service and a celebration that all of Michael's fans around the world can be part of," The Sun quoted Staples Center boss Tim Leiweke as saying.

Meanwhile, preparations were being made for the expected massive turnout outside the Staples Center for the ceremony, which will be broadcast live globally.

Jackson died aged 50 on June 25 at his Los Angeles home from an apparent cardiac arrest, which was believed to have stemmed from an overdose of prescription drugs.