With police officers shouting, people crowded around the coat check desk, clamoring for their belongings. Workers hadn't been putting coats on racks in any particular order, which added to the confusion.

Congestion at Detroit Auto Show coat check line following charity preview prompts changes:
The Detroit Auto Show's Charity Preview went well Friday night. 

But there was one big hiccup: coat check.
The coat check line took hours, attendees said. 

• As police stepped in to assist employees with coat returns, some people even lost their jackets — some made of expensive fur — and others lost their tempers.

The charity preview is an annual feature of the show that hosts high-profile stakeholders in government, nonprofits and the auto industry. 

The event, which many refer to as "auto prom," emphasizes high fashion. 

So, with the show returning to January after experimenting with shows in summer and fall, attendees dressed warmly. 

Of course, they brought coats. (and shoes!)...

Detroit Police and other law enforcement yell to a crowd growing uneasy after waiting hours for their coats to move back as they help look for coats after workers did not put any coats in an order at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show Charity Preview at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.© Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press...