Meetings with OC Transpo, the police, city permit officials and others helped with aspects ranging from traffic to security for the 60,000 people who attended over three days. (Individual daily visitors have not yet been calculated, but Mr. Benoit expects it will surpass the 30,000 seen last year.)
"When you get all the organizations in one room, everybody was wanting to help out so it would be a smooth event," said Mr. Benoit, also chief executive of Concert International – the organizing group.
"The amount of planning that everyone did, it just seemed there was a lot more support than usual. No one was trying to stop this from happening. Everyone wanted to see the event be extremely successful, and everyone went out of their way to help."
Concert International inked a new pact with Empire Sports and Entertainment Group, a move that increased Capital Hoedown's budget by 60 per cent.
The entities also signed on a number of new sponsors that included Pepsi and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
Besides changing the VIP area to make it a little easier to see the performers, Mr. Benoit said he envisions few changes to the venue or organization for next year. He is already in discussions with artists and will announce the lineup in November.
"There were just no problems, and I don't know there will be too many things different next year."
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