Steve Wozniak

Apple co-founder with Steve Wozniak stands up and joins others in the audience in applauding the Federal Communications Commission vote on Net Neutrality during an open hearing at the FCC in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The FCC has agreed to impose strict new regulations on Internet service providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T. The regulatory agency voted 3-2 in favor of rules aimed at enforcing what's called "net neutrality." That's the idea that service providers shouldn't intentionally block or slow web traffic, creating paid fast lanes on the Internet.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE)

SPRINGFIELD - The co-founder of Apple will speak before a crowd of thousands at the MassMutual Center tonight at 5:30, and MassLive will provide live coverage.

Steve Wozniak is credited with inventing the personal computer. He's participating in a moderated question-and-answer session with Latoyia Edwards of NECN, to be followed by questions from the audience.

Wozniak's appearance comes courtesy of the Springfield Public Forum, now celebrating its 80th anniversary. The Forum usually books speakers in the fall, but Wozniak's schedule put him in Buffalo and then Boston with a few days of free time in between, so they seized the opportunity to bring him to the Pioneer Valley.

At first, the talk was planned for the ballroom and all the free tickets were claimed in less than nine hours. Due to high demand, it was moved to the arena, doubling the seating.

MassMutual is the lead sponsor of Wozniak's appearance, and others include The Markens Group, Paragus Strategic IT and Wilbraham & Monson Academy. MassLive is the media sponsor.

The event comes amid a surge of startup growth and innovation in the region. For more coverage of entrepreneurship across Massachusetts, click here.