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
62 steps · 4 contract gates · 4 can start straight away
| # | Phase | Step | Who | Hands to | When | Blocked by | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0. The trigger |
Decision to launch - no franchise owner found by 1 June
GATE
1 June of the year before the season. If there is still no franchise owner on 1 June, TPL launches the team itself and this pathway starts.
The 18-month cycle: markets worked from 1 August two years out - agreements in place but UNSIGNED by 1 January - franchise owner search January to May - 1 June, launch or not. Set the pathway start date to 1 June of the year before the season.
Hands over: A committed launch and a city
|
Alec TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -349 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | TPL-managed only |
| 40 | 2. Brand |
Build the brand for that team in that city
Starts at near-certainty, not at signature - the lead time on branding is what would otherwise hold up the launch.
Hands over: Logo and brand package
|
Lexie TPL corporate |
Clarkston | 35 days after start | Decision to launch - no franchise owner found by 1 June
|
TPL-managed only |
| 45 | 2. Brand |
Register the team domain
Hands over: The registered domain
|
Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 38 days after start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only |
| 50 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Secure the field agreement and lease
City-specific and contract-critical. Depending on who owns the field this can need a school board or council vote before anyone can sign. No venue, no team.
The agreement should already be negotiated and sitting unsigned since 1 January - this step is approval and signature, not negotiation. The negotiation happened in the market track.
Hands over: The agreed terms, ready to sign
|
Landon TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 45 days after start | Decision to launch - no franchise owner found by 1 June
|
TPL-managed only |
| 52 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Sign the field agreement and lease
GATE
Hands over: The executed agreement and confirmed home venue
|
Reggie TPL corporate |
Commissioner / League GM | 48 days after start | Secure the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 60 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Launch the entity
Hands over: The formed LLC
|
Ashton TPL corporate |
Management Services | 50 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 70 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Get EIN
Hands over: EIN
|
Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 55 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 80 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Establish the bank account
Hands over: Bank account and routing details
|
Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 60 days after start | Get EIN
|
TPL-managed only |
| 90 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Operating agreement - Ashton creates, Reggie signs
Hands over: The executed operating agreement
|
Ashton creates / Reggie signs TPL corporate |
Whoever owns the entity | 60 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 102 | 6. TPL systems | Set up the company in Odoo | Alec TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 111 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 103 | 6. TPL systems | Add the team to the player application | Alec TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 112 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 104 | 6. TPL systems | Check the market grade | Alec TPL corporate |
DSCE | 112 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 106 | 6. TPL systems | Add the team to TPL managed teams | Alec TPL corporate |
Whoever manages the team | 113 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 107 | 6. TPL systems | Add the team to the CRM forms | Alec TPL corporate |
DSCE | 114 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 108 | 7. Staff | Confirm the pay for coach, DSCE and ballpark director | Alec TPL corporate |
Team GM | 114 days after start | Check the market grade
|
TPL-managed only |
| 109 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Get the franchise agreement drawn
Hands over: The agreement, ready for signature
|
Alec TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 68 days after start | Get EIN
|
TPL-managed only |
| 110 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Sign the franchise agreement
GATE
FDD disclosure rules apply - 14 days before signing or taking any money.
Hands over: The executed franchise agreement
|
The franchise signer for this team TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 70 days after start | Get the franchise agreement drawn
|
TPL-managed only |
| 112 | 3. Agreement and entity | Put the banking details in the vault | Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 116 days after start | Establish the bank account
|
TPL-managed only |
| 120 | 4. Books and money | QuickBooks set up | Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 75 days after start | Put the banking details in the vault
|
TPL-managed only |
| 130 | 4. Books and money | Sales tax account and resale certificate | Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 80 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 140 | 4. Books and money | Square set up | Summer TPL corporate |
Whoever manages the team | 80 days after start | Put the banking details in the vault
|
TPL-managed only |
| 145 | 4. Books and money |
Stripe set up
Set up as soon as the bank account exists - it cannot be done before and should not wait.
|
Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 62 days after start | Put the banking details in the vault
|
TPL-managed only |
| 146 | 4. Books and money | Bill.com set up | Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 133 days after start | Establish the bank account
|
TPL-managed only |
| 147 | 4. Books and money | SimpleTix set up | Mary Scott TPL corporate |
Whoever manages the team | 80 days after start | Put the banking details in the vault
|
TPL-managed only |
| 148 | 4. Books and money | Set the entity up on Avalara for sales tax | Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 134 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 149 | 4. Books and money | Set up the team email | Sarah TPL corporate |
Whoever manages the team | 135 days after start | Set up website
|
TPL-managed only |
| 150 | 4. Books and money |
Insurance set up
GATE
Required coverage with TPL as additional insured.
|
Alec TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 80 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 155 | 4. Books and money | Set the budget: revenue target and operating expenses | Alec TPL corporate |
Management Services | 138 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 156 | 4. Books and money | Set the revenue goals in Odoo for the DSCE | Alec TPL corporate |
DSCE | 138 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 158 | 4. Books and money | Royalty invoice set up | Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 139 days after start | Bill.com set up
|
TPL-managed only |
| 159 | 4. Books and money | FPSN invoice set up | Summer TPL corporate |
Foul Pole | 140 days after start | Bill.com set up
|
TPL-managed only |
| 160 | 4. Books and money | Royalty and technology payment | Summer TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 85 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 170 | 4. Books and money |
Sales tax paid through the season and the year
Recurring, not a one-off - it runs all season and all year.
|
Summer TPL corporate |
Management Services | 0 days vs season start | Sales tax account and resale certificate
|
TPL-managed only |
| 180 | 5. Presence | Set up socials | Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 75 days after start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only |
| 190 | 5. Presence | Set up website | Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 80 days after start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only |
| 200 | 5. Presence | Connect CRM forms to the website | Sarah TPL corporate |
DSCE | 85 days after start | Set up website
|
TPL-managed only |
| 204 | 5. Presence | Build the brand board in Canva | Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 162 days after start | Set up socials
|
TPL-managed only |
| 205 | 5. Presence |
Build the social post templates
One template each for staff announcement, player announcement, sponsor announcement, weekly schedule, game day post, player of the week and final score. Seven, built once, used all season by whoever is posting.
Hands over: The seven post templates
|
Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 200 days after start | Build the brand board in Canva
|
TPL-managed only |
| 210 | 5. Presence | Get the team on the league websites | Zach Wolfe TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 85 days after start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only |
| 212 | 5. Presence |
Build the team contract link
Hands over: The contract link
|
Zach Wolfe TPL corporate |
Team GM | 78 days after start | nothing - can start now | TPL-managed only |
| 214 | 5. Presence |
Build the GameChanger page
Hands over: The GameChanger page
|
Zach Wolfe TPL corporate |
Team GM | 82 days after start | nothing - can start now | TPL-managed only |
| 220 | 6. TPL systems | Add team to TPL Portal for forms and database | Alec TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 75 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 230 | 6. TPL systems | Add as a company in TPL Portal | Alec TPL corporate |
Management Services | 75 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 240 | 6. TPL systems | Set up the portal invoice and check it reads right | Alec TPL corporate |
Management Services | 80 days after start | Add as a company in TPL Portal
|
TPL-managed only |
| 250 | 6. TPL systems |
Build the player packet
Alec for now.
|
Alec TPL corporate |
Team GM | 85 days after start | Set up socials Set up website Build the brand board in Canva
|
TPL-managed only |
| 252 | 6. TPL systems | Build the host family flyer | Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 186 days after start | Set up website Build the brand board in Canva
|
TPL-managed only |
| 253 | 6. TPL systems | Build the group ticket flyer | Sarah TPL corporate |
DSCE | 187 days after start | Set up website Build the brand board in Canva
|
TPL-managed only |
| 254 | 6. TPL systems | Build the sponsorship flyer | Sarah TPL corporate |
DSCE | 187 days after start | Set up website Build the brand board in Canva
|
TPL-managed only |
| 255 | 6. TPL systems | Publish the flyers to the team boards | Sarah TPL corporate |
Team GM | 188 days after start | Build the host family flyer Build the group ticket flyer Build the sponsorship flyer
|
TPL-managed only |
| 256 | 6. TPL systems |
Change the team over to its final name
Hands over: The team live everywhere under its final name
|
Alec TPL corporate |
Team GM | 190 days after start | nothing - can start now | TPL-managed only |
| 260 | 7. Staff |
Hire Coach
Contract starts 1 September.
Hands over: A signed seat
|
Landon TPL corporate |
Team GM | -256 days vs season start | Confirm the pay for coach, DSCE and ballpark director Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 270 | 7. Staff |
Hire DSCE
Contract starts 1 January - the only seat on a different clock.
Hands over: A signed seat
|
David TPL corporate |
Team GM | -135 days vs season start | Confirm the pay for coach, DSCE and ballpark director Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 280 | 7. Staff | Hire DBO | David TPL corporate |
Team GM | -256 days vs season start | Confirm the pay for coach, DSCE and ballpark director Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 290 | 7. Staff |
Host family coordinator confirmed
Volunteer role - no pay, no vendor bill, no W-9, no card.
|
Joanne TPL corporate |
Team GM | -250 days vs season start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 300 | 7. Staff |
Hire the concession manager
The beer or alcohol licence has its own lead time - start it with the hire.
|
Payton Rapp TPL corporate |
Team GM | -250 days vs season start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 310 | 8. Ballpark |
Internet at the ballpark
Hands over: Confirmed working internet
|
Chris Turner TPL corporate |
Foul Pole | -80 days vs season start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 320 | 8. Ballpark |
Camera at the ballpark
Cannot be scheduled until the internet is confirmed working.
Hands over: A tested stream
|
Chris Turner TPL corporate |
Foul Pole | -60 days vs season start | Internet at the ballpark
|
TPL-managed only |
| 330 | 8. Ballpark |
Order the start-up package
One order, paid once, placed with Clarkston Baseball Supply. The logo is already built by this point - pull it from the brand folder.
|
Angie Thomas TPL corporate |
Team GM | -150 days vs season start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only |
| 340 | 8. Ballpark |
Team equipment on hand
Concessions kit, tents, group area, water coolers. Ordered in pieces across the spring from several suppliers, so there is no single order to track - what matters is that it has all arrived by two weeks before the first home game.
|
Angie Thomas TPL corporate |
Team GM | -14 days vs season start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 345 | 9. Revenue | Set the price list and the sellable inventory | David TPL corporate |
DSCE | 233 days after start | Sign the field agreement and lease
|
TPL-managed only |
| 350 | 9. Revenue |
Start corporate sponsorship sales
Starts in January.
|
David TPL corporate |
DSCE | -135 days vs season start | Set the price list and the sellable inventory
|
TPL-managed only |
| 360 | 9. Revenue |
Start group ticket sales
Starts 15 March.
|
David TPL corporate |
DSCE | -61 days vs season start | Decision recorded Set the price list and the sellable inventory
|
TPL-managed only |