Pat DiPaolo, principal of East High School, said they hope to fit about 1,500 people inside the gymnasium for today’s event – 1,200 in the bleachers and another 300 on the floor.

Overflow crowd will be seated in the auditorium, which can hold 453.

Erie Bureau of Fire Chief Inspector Guy Santone is on hand to enforce the occupancy limit.

Students in Erie School District classrooms will be watching a simulcast on the district’s television station, DiPaolo said.

-- John Guerriero