How many people will attend the gay marriage hearing?

Over the past few days, I’ve been talking with sources on both sides of the gay marriage debate about the hearing set for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center.
 
Neither side wants to talk specific numbers, but both sides expect a big turnout. That’s why lawmakers decided to move the hearing from Cony High School, which would have accommodated about 900 people in the theater, to the main auditorium at the civic center, which can handle at least a few thousand.
 
I found out today that there will be seats set up on the floor, and the bleachers will be open, for those who attend the hearing. Also, there will be two podiums -- one for pro and one for con -- so people can line up, speak their peace and sit back down.
 
When I think back to other hearings in recent years that drew super-large crowds, two come to mind.
 
The school district consolidation hearing was actually split up into two different rooms at the civic center. And a few years ago, several hundred, maybe a 1,000, came out for a hearing a on proposal to reduce funding for those with brain injuries.
 
So, what’s your guess on the turnout? Several hundred or more than 1,000? Is a big turnout more important to one side or the other?