http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_news/blog_entry/116
"It is all over the poker community and the Internet that Harrah's has capped the number of players for the 2006 Championship at 8,000. That is wrong! Admittedly, even Card Player reported it wrong.
I personally confirmed with Jeffery Pollack, WSOP Commisioner, that not only is it not capped at 8,000, but they already have accommodations for at least 9,000. Furthermore if demand dictates, they will try to expand even more."
FWIW, Barry Shulman is the author of this "rumor", which I suspect isn't a rumor since he claims to have spoken with Pollack himself.