Police: No camping allowed for 'The X Factor' auditions

Camping will not be allowed at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates tonight, even though people are anxious to reserve a spot in line for “The X Factor” auditions Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Sears Centre's parking lot will not open until 4 a.m. Tuesday. Registration for the auditions begins at 6 a.m.

“Anyone who comes before 4 a.m. (Tuesday) will be turned away,” said Hoffman Estates Police Sgt. Darin Felgenhauer.

Police will step up patrols in and around the Sears Centre lot overnight to prevent people from camping out, and extra officers are being called in to direct traffic Tuesday and Wednesday.

Huge crowds are expected at the FOX TV show auditions, which have drawn crowds of around 20,000 people in other cities they've visited. Hoffman Estates is the only city in the Midwest to hold auditions for the show, a singing competition for ages 12 and up. The show will air this fall.

For more information about parking, see HoffmanEstates.com. For more information about the audition process, go to www.fox.com/thexfactor.