*Thousands of Kobe Bryant fans are expected to come together at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday to honor the lives of the NBA legend and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died along with seven other people in a helicopter crash last month.
Police are urging non-ticket holders to stay away from venue during the memorial, and instead watch the event at home live on television, which begins at 10 a.m.
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore said individuals who are not among the 20,000 ticketed for the memorial will not be allowed into the surrounding area, including L.A. Live, per Los Angeles Times.
“This entire area will be barricaded off,” Moore said Friday. “As a matter of respect … honor the family wishes and allow this event to go as smoothly as possible.”
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#2, #24, #20 years as a Laker and the amount of years Kob and I were together ❤️❤️??
Via LA TIMES:
Moore said barriers will stretch from Pico Boulevard to Olympic Boulevard, and anyone without a ticket to the memorial as well as matching identification will not be allowed into the area during Monday’s event. Anyone trying to breach the police lines will face arrest, he said.
The multiple businesses at L.A. Live will be closed Monday morning, as will Georgia Street and Chick Hearn Court. The massive video screens outside the L.A. Live complex will be turned off.
Proceeds from ticket sales will reportedly be donated to the Bryant’s Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa, previously noted on Instagram the significance of the date of the memorial, 2-24-20: Kobe wore No. 24 while playing basketball and Gianna wore No. 2 on her youth basketball teams. “20” not only represents the current year but also the number of years Bryant played for the Lakers.
In an Instagram post (see above), Vanessa described the memorial service as “a Celebration of Life.”
A private funeral was held for Kobe and Gianna in Orange County on Feb. 7.
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