Thousands ignore cold for shot at 'Deal'

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn., Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Thousands of people braved numbing Minnesota temperatures and tow trucks for a the possibility to be on the TV show "Deal or No Deal."

Officials estimate about 10,000 hopefuls endured sub-zero temps as they waited at a Toyota dealership, hoping their audition would get them beside "Deal" emcee Howie Mandel, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Friday.

Crowd-control problems arose. Parking was an issue and cars were towed. At least one case of frostbite was reported. Parents with children were turned away for safety's sake.

"There were reports of children running around with bare feet. There were reports of children left in running vehicles," said Joe Lynch, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., city administrator. "Both of those were true."

Lynch said the city had no official role in the auditions -- the deal was struck between car dealer Denny Hecker and the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. Hecker said he opened his building to get as many people out of the cold as possible and made sure first aid was available.

Snafus aside, Hecker said the event "kind of broke up a Minnesota winter day."