Pathways
The step template behind each process. This is the master list - a live pathway copies these steps onto a team.
1. Team Launch
2. Team Reset (annual)
3. League Launch
4. Franchise Sale
5. Team Sale
6. Team Acquisition
7. League Acquisition
8. Team Rebrand or Relocation
9. League Rebrand
30 steps · 4 contract gates · 4 can start straight away
| # | Phase | Step | Who | Hands to | When | Blocked by | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Decide |
Target state and region identified
Hands over: A named state and region to work
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -573 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | |
| 20 | Decide |
Candidate markets graded
The market grader already grades every market. Use it - do not re-survey.
Hands over: A graded list of candidate markets
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -559 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | |
| 22 | Five founding teams |
A venue exists in every market on the list
The market grader already grades every market. Use it rather than re-surveying.
Hands over: Confirmation that each market has somewhere to play
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -553 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | |
| 24 | Five founding teams |
Five markets named, each with a venue that works
Hands over: Five named markets, each with somewhere to play
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -543 days vs season start | Candidate markets graded A venue exists in every market on the list
|
|
| 26 | Five founding teams |
Owners sought for the five named markets
Hands over: Signed founding owners, and a count of what is still unsold
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -400 days vs season start | League name and branding decided Five markets named, each with a venue that works
|
|
| 28 | Five founding teams |
TPL launches whatever did not sell
Hands over: A team launch opened for every unsold market
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -349 days vs season start | Owners sought for the five named markets
|
|
| 30 | Decide |
League name and branding decided
Hands over: A league name and brand package
|
TPL corporate |
Clarkston | -543 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | |
| 40 | Stand it up |
League entity formed
Hands over: A formed league entity with an EIN and a bank account
|
Outside counsel |
Management Services | -520 days vs season start | Five markets named, each with a venue that works
|
|
| 50 | Stand it up |
Domain registered and Google Workspace set up
Hands over: A league domain and working mailboxes
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -510 days vs season start | League name and branding decided
|
|
| 60 | Stand it up |
Website live
Hands over: A live league site
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -480 days vs season start | Domain registered and Google Workspace set up
|
|
| 70 | Stand it up |
Social accounts created and handles secured
Hands over: League social accounts, handles secured everywhere
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -480 days vs season start | League name and branding decided
|
|
| 80 | People |
Commissioner candidate presented
GATE
No Commissioner, no league. Every season-running step on this list is theirs.
Hands over: A named candidate ready to contract
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -430 days vs season start | Five markets named, each with a venue that works
|
|
| 90 | People |
Commissioner contracted
Hands over: An executed Commissioner agreement
|
TPL corporate |
Commissioner / League GM | -395 days vs season start | Commissioner candidate presented
|
|
| 100 | People |
League added to Schedule A for the base-fee cycle
GATE
A league not on Schedule A is a league nothing bills against.
Hands over: The league on Schedule A and in the base-fee cycle
|
TPL corporate |
Management Services | -257 days vs season start | League entity formed Commissioner contracted
|
|
| 110 | Sell it |
Founding franchise targets identified
The first five franchises admitted are Founding Franchises. No Commissioner commission is payable on any of them - Commissioner Agreement 6.4 and 6.8.
Hands over: A named target list per market
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -490 days vs season start | Five markets named, each with a venue that works
|
|
| 120 | Sell it |
Franchise sales pipeline opened
Each sale runs its own franchise sale pathway, which then feeds a team launch pathway.
Hands over: A live pipeline with every market tracked
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -490 days vs season start | Founding franchise targets identified
|
|
| 130 | Season |
Season dates and schedule framework set
Hands over: Season dates and a schedule framework
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -240 days vs season start | Commissioner contracted
|
|
| 140 | Season |
League added to the portal and the public directory
Hands over: The league live in the portal and the directory
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -240 days vs season start | League name and branding decided League entity formed
|
|
| 150 | Season |
Announcement published
Hands over: The league announced
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -235 days vs season start | Commissioner contracted League added to the portal and the public directory Five markets named, each with a venue that works
|
|
| 320 | Teams |
Minimum team count confirmed
GATE
Five teams is the minimum. Below five there is no workable schedule.
Hands over: Five teams confirmed and committed
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -349 days vs season start | Owners sought for the five named markets TPL launches whatever did not sell
|
|
| 330 | Teams |
Every team has an executed field agreement
GATE
A team with no executed field agreement cannot be scheduled.
Hands over: Every team with a signed venue
|
Commissioner / League GM |
Commissioner / League GM | -210 days vs season start | Minimum team count confirmed
|
|
| 340 | Rules |
Rules, eligibility and roster submission published
Hands over: Published rules, eligibility and roster rules
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -240 days vs season start | Commissioner contracted
|
|
| 350 | Rules |
Umpire assignment set up
Hands over: Umpires contracted and assignment running
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -120 days vs season start | Commissioner contracted
|
|
| 360 | Schedule |
Schedule built and published
Hands over: A published schedule with confirmed home dates
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -196 days vs season start | Season dates and schedule framework set Every team has an executed field agreement
|
|
| 370 | Media |
Camera installs scheduled across the league
Hands over: Camera installs booked at every venue
|
Foul Pole |
Foul Pole | -90 days vs season start | Every team has an executed field agreement
|
|
| 380 | Media |
Streaming live and tested for every team
Hands over: Every team streaming and proven
|
Foul Pole |
Commissioner / League GM | -14 days vs season start | Camera installs scheduled across the league
|
|
| 390 | Media |
League sponsorship and advertising inventory opened
Hands over: League inventory priced and on sale
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -170 days vs season start | Commissioner contracted
|
|
| 400 | Media |
Standings and stats live
Hands over: Standings and stats live and updating
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | -7 days vs season start | Schedule built and published
|
|
| 410 | Portal |
Commissioner portal access granted
Hands over: A Commissioner working in the portal
|
TPL corporate |
Commissioner / League GM | -390 days vs season start | Commissioner contracted
|
|
| 420 | Season |
First game played
Hands over: A league that has played
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | 0 days vs season start | Schedule built and published Streaming live and tested for every team
|