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As a rookie general manager, Kavis Reed received his share of criticism last season in the media — especially after the Alouettes went 3-15, missing the Canadian Football League playoffs a third successive season.

But last Friday night, at Montreal’s Grande Bibliothèque, Reed could do no wrong as he and team president Patrick Boivin answered questions from about 150 season-ticket holders for an hour.

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Indeed, when Boivin queried those who had assembled whether they agreed Reed had done a “pretty decent job” of rebuilding the team through free agency and last week’s Canadian college draft, the question was greeted with wild applause.

Of course, Boivin and Reed were preaching to the converted. Their job isn’t to convince those who already have committed to season tickets.

“The reality is, we have to build back these relationships. The numbers are what they are. It’s not necessarily going to change from a season-ticket perspective,” said Boivin, now well into his second year as Als president. “We have to get more people into the stadium and, eventually, get them to convert.