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Public memorial for Kobe, Gianna Bryant scheduled for Feb. 24 at Staples Center

Photo Credit: Lamar Carter

Staples Center, the home arena of the Los Angeles Sparks, Lakers and NHL’s Kings, is no stranger to hosting memorials for pop culture icons who lost their lives too early. It was the site of Michael Jackson’s memorial service after his untimely demise in 2009 and Nipsey Hussle’s last year.

Kobe and Gianna Bryant, along with seven others who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Calabasas last month, will be added to that list. According to an Instagram post from Vanessa Bryant, a memorial service will be held at Staples Center to honor the lives of Kobe and Gianna along with those seven other victims.

Those were John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan – the helicopter’s pilot. Payton Chester and Alyssa Altobelli were teammates of GiGi’s on the Los Angeles Lady Mambas. That helicopter was supposed to land at Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.

The Feb. 24 date would be only a few days after NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago. Players for Team Giannis (Antetokounmpo) will wear No. 24 and players for Team LeBron (James) will wear No. 2. Every player participating in this year’s All-Star weekend will wear a patch with nine stars in remembrance of the nine lives lost in the crash.

Also, 24 points will be added to the leading team’s score after three quarters with the setting of a target score. The winning team will be the first team that reaches said target score.

The Feb. 24 date is also symbolic given that it represents Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 and Gianna Bryant’s No. 2. The service is scheduled for 10 a.m. that day with more details to come, according to Vanessa Bryant’s Instagram. The Los Angeles Times reported the date was chosen after discussions between Vanessa Bryant, the Lakers and Staples Center.

Holding the memorial at Staples may create an access issue where demand will surely outdo supply. It was speculated in the days following the fatal crash that a memorial service may be held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum because of Staples Center only seating a maximum of 20,000.

The memorial will also occur well before a Los Angeles Clippers game against the Memphis Grizzlies later that evening. Fans built a makeshift memorial outside Staples Center in the days after the news became known. That memorial has since been dismantled with the contents from said memorial being given to the Bryant family.

Jan. 26 was also the day of the Grammys which were also held at Staples Center as fans gathered to remember Kobe, Gianna and the other victims. The Lakers staged its first game since the Bryants’ deaths on Jan. 31 at Staples Center when they hosted the Portland Trail Blazers. An emotional ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant took place prior to the game.

In addition, a separate memorial service will be held Monday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim to honor the Altobelli family. That event is free and is open to the public.

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