British tabloid 'Sun' which had published the leaked autopsy report of the pop star claimed that the service will start at 10am at the arena which is home to the LA Lakers basketball team, quoting sources in the US.

The venue which is owned by AEG Live, the organizers of Jackson's comeback gigs at London's O2 arena, has a seating capacity of 20,000 and is expected to be packed to the full.

AEG also plans to put up giant screens outside the venue for the thousands who will not be able get inside.

Los Angeles Times had first reported about the possibility of the ceremony being held at the Staples centre, citing plans for a massive law enforcement deployment on Tuesday morning.

However, the changed plans have disappointed thousands of Jackson's devotees, who had gathered near his California ranch expecting to pay their final goodbye to their idol.

The sprawling 5800 acre property, which Jackson named after J M Barrie's fictitious world of Peter Pan, is a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses.