2/14/20 Update: Tickets are now—sort of—available for the official public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
Due to high demand, those who hope to attend the February 24 service, held at 10am at the Staples Center, can now register to purchase tickets via Ticketmaster's Verified Fan program, which aims to eliminate scalpers and other third-party ticket buyers.
Then on the night of Tuesday, February 18, those who have registered and have been approved will receive an email disclosing a code, which can then be used to purchase tickets the following morning when sales open at 10am on Wednesday, February 19. Tickets are limited to two per verified account, and both parties must be present, with identification, on the day of the event.
Ticket registration is open now through 10pm on Monday, February 17; ticket prices will run $224 each; two for $224; and $24.02 apiece, with proceeds benefiting the MambaOnThree Fund. Find full ticket registration info here.
The date, like the basketball legend's last jersey, is 24.
In the nearly two weeks since Kobe Bryant's untimely death, thousands have visited the Staples Center to pay their respects to the Lakers star and Olympic medalist, and the city has lit up in purple and gold in mourning. Now, according to the Los Angeles Times, on February 24, the Downtown sports arena will host a public memorial for Bryant.
Details as to tickets, time and programming are still forthcoming, but per multiple sources, that Monday is the official ceremony for the general public to celebrate the life of Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash along with eight others—including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna—in Calabasas on January 26.
Gianna, a talented basketball player in her own right, played with a jersey number of 2.
For Kobe.
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) February 1, 2020
For Gianna.
For all those we lost.
For those we will always love.
For L.A.#RememberingKobe pic.twitter.com/qi2vCYjpkp
The date is reportedly an agreement between Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow; the Lakers; and the sports arena. According to the Times there will be no procession, only an event inside the venue that will finish prior to the Clippers game that will be held at the Staples Center later that evening.
We will update this story as more details are released.