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Familiar faces stopped him throughout the evening. “You did this, buddy,” former mayor Larry O’Brien told him. “No, we did this,” Hunt replied.

I met up with Hunt at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the south side stands before the TD Place doors opened to season-ticket holders. Organizers were hoping for 10,000 people.

We walked down to the field, where he watched fans filter into the stands for the first time since they were refurbished.

Hunt seemed awestruck by the crowds as they streamed in. “What a sight,” he said. “This is very cool.”

He then made his way to the northeast corner of Lansdowne, where shuttle buses from four locations across the city were dropping off fans. Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group CEO Bernie Ashe was also out there supervising the goings-on.

It wasn’t the 24,000 people that will fill TD Place for the Redblacks July 18 home opener, but Hunt said things with the shuttles went smoothly.

Afterward, Hunt walked back to the stadium for the introductions of the Redblacks and the NASL’s Ottawa Fury.

Since he bought the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s in 1998, Hunt has been known for his hands-on approach and attention to detail. The team’s average attendance quintupled under his watch.

As one of five partners in OSEG, he appears to be taking a similar approach.

At one point, when fans were allowed onto the field for a photo and autograph session with the players, a couple of people hopped over the south-side railings onto the turf a few feet below. Hunt saw it and found someone who could put a stop to it.

He said there are “a million little things” organizers want to get right for the home opener, and Wednesday night’s event will help them prepare.

“This is going to give us a good to-do list of things that have to be addressed,” he said.

When the Redblacks players were introduced, quarterback Henry Burris got by far the loudest cheer from the crowd.

Hunt wasn’t introduced over the loudspeaker. But if he had been, he might have gotten the loudest ovation of all.

mwoods@ottawacitizen.com

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