A man photographs an electronic billboard at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the site for Michael Jackson's memorial service to be held Tuesday, July 7. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

Some 8,750 Michael Jackson fans, randomly drawn from an internet lottery, have been selected to attend the pop singer's memorial in Los Angeles.

Fans had until 6 p.m. PT Saturday to register on the Staples Center website. Some 1.6 million people managed to get their names in by deadline.

The 8,750 selected began getting their notification emails after 11 a.m. PT Sunday. Each will receive two tickets and will be required to pick them up Monday at an off-site distribution centre.

At that point, a wristband will be placed on their wrists to prevent illegal sales of the tickets, which are free.

Michael Jackson is shown at a press conference in March in London, announcing plans to appear at the London O2 Arena in July. Jackson, 50, died in Los Angeles June 25. (Joel Ryan/Associated Press)

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door for the ceremony slated to begin at 10 a.m. PT on Tuesday after the Jackson family and close friends attend a private funeral at a Hollywood Hills cemetery.

Those with wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered will not be allowed in.

The 50-year-old performer died June 25 at his rented home in Los Angeles. The official cause of death will not be known for a few weeks yet.

Jackson was in the city rehearsing for his comeback concert series, scheduled to begin July 13 at London's O2 arena.

Tuesday's ceremony will be streamed live and several networks will carry it.

City officials are bracing for massive crowds. Assistant police chief Earl Paysinger said as many as 700,000 people may try to reach the arena.

However, a broad area around the centre has been barricaded off already.

With files from The Associated Press