Lucky Jackson fans descend on Staples Center

Jason and Amanda Baker of San Francisco scrambled to find flights, a hotel, a baby sitter to watch their kids and workers to run their bar.

"We weren't going to miss this," said Jason Baker, the gold wristband signaling admission to Staples Center strapped tightly to his right arm.

Erma Trinidad of Irvine, Calif., was thrilled to be among the fans outside Staples, but she felt guilty for calling in sick to her job as a defense contractor.

"This is the most unprofessional I've ever been," said the 34-year-old Jackson fan.

Clarisse Que was feeling guilty, too. Instead of inviting her father to the memorial, she took a friend, Trinidad.

"I'm DVR-ing it for my dad," Que said.

Fans gathered outside Staples to snap photos of the scene, the giant sympathy card for Jackson and a tribute in red and white roses that read, "We love you Michael."

Guests were mostly orderly as they moved through metal detectors. Each was handed a program, submitted to a check of their purses or packages and shuffled into the giant arena.

Plenty of people without tickets still made the pilgrimage downtown. Fans crowded the corner just outside the police perimeter, where more than 20 uniformed officers kept watch. Dozens of street vendors also were in the mix, selling buttons, posters, T-shirts, bouquets and glittery gloves.

"Show your love, get a glove," a woman shouted, carrying a cardboard box of spangled white gloves.

Andrea Hernandez of Los Angeles said she was looking forward to seeing photos of Jackson at the memorial: "I like how he looked when he was younger."

The 21-year-old Hernandez was also excited that Jackson's body would be at the service, "only because it makes it that much more special. Spiritually ... he's here. But physically, it's just like, whoa. It makes it that much more powerful. It's something that I'll tell my kids about."

Norma Paramo of Fontana, Calif., said she used to sing "I'll Be There," translated into Spanish, to her aunt who raised her.

"He was a hero for me as I was growing up," Paramo said of Jackson. "When there was hard times, his music would make me feel happy. I could get lost in his music and forget about everything we were going through, and I'm going to miss him."

She wiped away tears as she said, "This will be closure for me."

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AP Entertainment Writer Ryan Pearson contributed to this report.