The “House That Kobe Built” will be the location that his fans can say their final goodbyes. A public memorial for Kobe Bryant will take place at Staples Center on Feb. 24, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The memorial will follow days of tributes across Los Angeles following the Jan. 26 helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others.
Fans gathered outside the Staples Center leaving jerseys, letters, flowers, stuffed animals, and basketballs as they grieved. Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, asked to receive some of the items that were left outside the arena. Perishable items left by fans, such as flowers, will be composted and spread around the complex.
The Los Angeles Lakers held an emotional tribute before their first home game after the crash. Usher sang “Amazing Grace” and LeBron James gave a heartbreaking speech. Every fan in the arena was given a No. 8 or No. 24 T-shirt, which were the numbers that Bryant wore during his 20 years as a Laker.
Last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that a memorial was in the works.
“I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player, this is about a father, this is about a leader, this is about a filmmaker, this is about an artist, this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court,” he told reporters.
“It’s a reminder how much unity we have, though. We are one city that believes in each other, believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it as well.”
The Staples Center has hosted memorials for Michael Jackson and Nipsey Hussle. The memorial is set to begin at 10 a.m. PST. Additional information about tickets for the memorial are not available as of yet.
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