The Second Floor | Minutes (63.11)
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:26 am
London Monarchs Fan Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Date: Monday 26 March 2063
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Venue: London Stadium Meeting Space, Second Floor
Attendees
Supporter Representatives
Thea Buckley (TB) – Virtual: International Supporters' Clubs
Mallory Thompson (MT): London Pride and Co-Chair
Coleman Marshall (CM): Domestic Official Supporters' Clubs
Kailee Ready (KR): Season Ticket Holders
Denice Jones (DJ) – Virtual: MonarchsAbility
Naseem Bhattacharya (NB): London Monarchs Supporters' Trust (LMST)
Club Representatives
Grantland Hawthorne (GH): General Manager and Co-Chair
Celestine Neal (CN): Head of Ticketing
Michelle Ryley (MR): Head of Supporter Engagement
Grace Moffit (GM): Chief Legal Counsel
Opening Remarks
GH opened the meeting by welcoming the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) and
encouraging an open forum. He emphasised his willingness to provide updates and
answer questions from the board members.
Ticketing
CN noted that season ticket window was drawing to a close and that discussions were ongoing regarding individual game tickets. Ticket sales were on par with the prior season.
CM stated that the FAB was opposed to price increases for the coming season in light of the club's poor on-field performance in the last three seasons.
KR expressed disappointment that the club maintained season ticket prices above league average despite the clubs poor on-field performance of late.
CN stated that the club continued to review season ticket concessions in consultation with the FAB.
Update on Singing Section
GH stated that there was a shared aspiration to improve the atmosphere at games, and that the club is supportive of an expanded singing section in the outfield stand, left of the batter's eye.
MT noted that the FAB also supports this location.
GH and MT both noted that the atmosphere working group had experienced some challenges and supported an open and collaborative relationship, including the wider fan base.
Next Steps
Tifo Discussion
MR described the planned tifo for the club's home opener against the Sharks to honour the club's three championship teams and provided slides of how it would look on the night in question.
MT noted that fan groups were excited by the tifo and looked forward to participating and seeing it.
Executive Structure
MT asked about the current executive structure of the club and expressed concerns about reported vacancies in the club front office.
GH stated that the unexpected and abrupt departure of the previous general manager led in turn to many departures at the executive level and that the process of filling vacancies was ongoing.
NB asked if there was a timetable for filling these positions, given that the season would be starting next month.
GH reiterated that the process was ongoing, but that he could not provide a concrete time table since much of the preliminary screening was being done by the assistant general manager, who could not be present.
MT noted that the club had no finance director or CTO.
GH agreed that this was the case.
CM questioned whether the current club leadership was serious about running a professional organization.
GM suggested the board adjourn for dinner.
The meeting adjourned for thirty minutes.
Communication Strategy
MT raised concerns regarding the club's communication strategy. She cited the recent general manager transition as an example, noting that fans received most of their updates from social media rather than through official club channels.
GH pointed out that MR had only been on the job for a week, and that the previous communications team had departed with the former general manager. He committed to improving communication with the fans. He agreed that uncertainty in the offseason had been frustrating both for the club and supporters. He reiterated his commitment to improved communications with supporters.
MR agreed.
Any Other Business
CM asked when the club planned to update the club Hall of Fame to reflect 2062 honours.
MT suggested that there wasn't a great deal to honour in 2062.
GH stated that the club would be recognizing its most valuable players as well as most valuable minor leaguer. He noted that club players won one Platinum Stick and three Great Gloves in 2062.
CM noted that two of those awards were won by the same player whom he had heard, not from the club, suffered a head injury during spring training.
GM noted that a mishap had indeed occurred in spring training, but that the club's internal review of the incident in question was still ongoing and that the club could not comment further.
The meeting conlcuded.
Date: Monday 26 March 2063
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Venue: London Stadium Meeting Space, Second Floor
Attendees
Supporter Representatives
Thea Buckley (TB) – Virtual: International Supporters' Clubs
Mallory Thompson (MT): London Pride and Co-Chair
Coleman Marshall (CM): Domestic Official Supporters' Clubs
Kailee Ready (KR): Season Ticket Holders
Denice Jones (DJ) – Virtual: MonarchsAbility
Naseem Bhattacharya (NB): London Monarchs Supporters' Trust (LMST)
Club Representatives
Grantland Hawthorne (GH): General Manager and Co-Chair
Celestine Neal (CN): Head of Ticketing
Michelle Ryley (MR): Head of Supporter Engagement
Grace Moffit (GM): Chief Legal Counsel
Opening Remarks
GH opened the meeting by welcoming the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) and
encouraging an open forum. He emphasised his willingness to provide updates and
answer questions from the board members.
Ticketing
CN noted that season ticket window was drawing to a close and that discussions were ongoing regarding individual game tickets. Ticket sales were on par with the prior season.
CM stated that the FAB was opposed to price increases for the coming season in light of the club's poor on-field performance in the last three seasons.
KR expressed disappointment that the club maintained season ticket prices above league average despite the clubs poor on-field performance of late.
CN stated that the club continued to review season ticket concessions in consultation with the FAB.
Update on Singing Section
GH stated that there was a shared aspiration to improve the atmosphere at games, and that the club is supportive of an expanded singing section in the outfield stand, left of the batter's eye.
MT noted that the FAB also supports this location.
GH and MT both noted that the atmosphere working group had experienced some challenges and supported an open and collaborative relationship, including the wider fan base.
Next Steps
- Club to consider future Season Ticket relocation windows, subject to ticket availability.
- Club will look to introduce an atmosphere focus group.
Tifo Discussion
MR described the planned tifo for the club's home opener against the Sharks to honour the club's three championship teams and provided slides of how it would look on the night in question.
MT noted that fan groups were excited by the tifo and looked forward to participating and seeing it.
Executive Structure
MT asked about the current executive structure of the club and expressed concerns about reported vacancies in the club front office.
GH stated that the unexpected and abrupt departure of the previous general manager led in turn to many departures at the executive level and that the process of filling vacancies was ongoing.
NB asked if there was a timetable for filling these positions, given that the season would be starting next month.
GH reiterated that the process was ongoing, but that he could not provide a concrete time table since much of the preliminary screening was being done by the assistant general manager, who could not be present.
MT noted that the club had no finance director or CTO.
GH agreed that this was the case.
CM questioned whether the current club leadership was serious about running a professional organization.
GM suggested the board adjourn for dinner.
The meeting adjourned for thirty minutes.
Communication Strategy
MT raised concerns regarding the club's communication strategy. She cited the recent general manager transition as an example, noting that fans received most of their updates from social media rather than through official club channels.
GH pointed out that MR had only been on the job for a week, and that the previous communications team had departed with the former general manager. He committed to improving communication with the fans. He agreed that uncertainty in the offseason had been frustrating both for the club and supporters. He reiterated his commitment to improved communications with supporters.
MR agreed.
Any Other Business
CM asked when the club planned to update the club Hall of Fame to reflect 2062 honours.
MT suggested that there wasn't a great deal to honour in 2062.
GH stated that the club would be recognizing its most valuable players as well as most valuable minor leaguer. He noted that club players won one Platinum Stick and three Great Gloves in 2062.
CM noted that two of those awards were won by the same player whom he had heard, not from the club, suffered a head injury during spring training.
GM noted that a mishap had indeed occurred in spring training, but that the club's internal review of the incident in question was still ongoing and that the club could not comment further.
The meeting conlcuded.
