PROVO — Brigham Young University expects such a large turnout on April 26 when Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at commencement that tickets will be required to attend the graduation ceremony at the Marriott Center.

The probability that tickets will be in high demand could make it difficult for the general public to obtain the free tickets.

Students graduating this month or in August will have first priority. They will be able to pick up four tickets each — one for the student and three for guests — during a distribution next week.

Those tickets will be distributed April 16-18 at the Marriott Center ticket office. If tickets are left over, the same graduating students will be able to acquire additional tickets for guests on April 19.

If any tickets still remain, they will be distributed to the BYU community on April 23, BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said.

"At this point we just don't know if we'll have any tickets available for the general public," she said.

The Marriott Center's capacity is 22,600. Jenkins said BYU expects to have close to 22,000 seats available.

The last time the building was full for commencement was on April 20, 2000, when Marjorie Pay Hinckley and Jerold and JoAnn Ottley were the commencement speakers.

The total pool of potential graduates who could choose to attend commencement is more than 7,400, though not all who graduate choose to participate in commencement, and many who are graduating in August will attend ceremonies then.

Jenkins said 5,108 students are eligible to graduate this month. No number is available for the August graduation pool, but BYU awarded 2,293 students degrees in August 2006.

The event will be broadcast live on KBYU-TV Channel 11 at 4 p.m. on April 26.

BYU has decided to cancel the traditional processional from the administration building to the Marriott Center because of the security necessary for hosting the vice president.

"The graduates will need to arrive around 2 p.m. for security screening," Jenkins said. "With the screening, we felt it prudent not to have a processional. There are times, if we have a rainy day, for example, that we don't have a processional."

Doors to the Marriott Center will open at 1 p.m., and those attending will be required to be in their seats by 3:30 p.m. BYU will provide refreshments and entertainment.

Graduation candidates will be required to carry their caps and gowns over their arms when they pass through the metal detectors.

More information is available online at saas.byu.edu/depts/graduation.