Kobe Bryant fans upset over high ticket pricing for memorial service at Staples Center: 'This is so sickening'
The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Friday that fans must purchase tickets to attend the February 24th memorial for Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash last month and fans are livid over this. The memorial will not be shown on exterior video screens at the arena or the adjacent L.A. Live entertainment area.
Tickets will be priced at $224 each, two for $224 and $24.02 each — combinations of numbers that like the date, 2/24, represent the No. 24 worn by Bryant and the No. 2 worn by Gianna on her girls' basketball team. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, the Lakers said.
However, the fans of the late NBA player are upset and have taken to social media to voice their concerns.
One fan wrote, "This might be an unpopular opinion but the fact that they’re SELLING tickets to Kobe and Gigi's celebration of life memorial service is so sickening. I feel like gaining profit off their death by charging people to pay their respects is sick."
Another user tweeted, "Why would anyone want to pay to attend the memorial? Last week, Kobe and GiGi were laid to rest and it’s will be a long ceremony to highlight their lives. Is it for security and police officers? Who’s going to benefit from the selling of tickets?"
Fans are calling out the move, with one saying, "So tickets are on sale for Kobe’s memorial. This is weird. I can understand the high demand for the event but having people pay doesn’t feel right. Tickets should be first come first serve basis." Another tweeted, "Any goodwill the Lakers earned themselves in the last few weeks goes out the window with the decision to sell $200+ tickets to a Kobe memorial."
One user wrote, "Am I the only one who thinks it's sad to have to pay the big $$$ to show respects? The other family had a free/open memorial at angel stadium. This is A LOT of money for most."
However, some fans supported the pricing, with one fan tweeting, "I don't understand why people are complaining about having to pay for tickets to Kobe's memorial. Profits go to his foundation & other victims; it's to help others. Too many people like to complain about things they don't have to do."
Earlier this month, Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram to announce the date for the public memorial.