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
32 steps · 4 contract gates · 9 can start straight away
| # | Phase | Step | Who | Hands to | When | Blocked by | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August - close the season out |
Final home gate and concessions reconciled
Reconcile ticket counts and revenue after the last game. Concessions settle on the 75/25 split.
Hands over: A reconciled final gate and a banked deposit
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 3 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 2 | August - close the season out |
Player fees and refunds settled
Anything owed back goes out before the books close on the season.
Hands over: A player fee ledger with nothing open on it
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 7 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 3 | August - close the season out |
Gear returned, counted and written off or carried
Gear comes from Clarkston only - carry-over stock is theirs to track.
Hands over: A counted gear list showing what carries into next season
|
Management Services |
Team GM | 10 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 4 | August - close the season out |
Host families thanked and released
Hands over: The list of families willing to host again
|
Management Services |
Team GM | 7 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 5 | August - close the season out |
Season P&L closed for the team
Month-end close and reconciliation of the team’s Square activity.
Hands over: The closed season P&L
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 21 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 6 | August - close the season out |
Departing staff offboarded - GroupMe, portal, accesses
The annual seat reset runs 15 August. Anyone not re-contracted comes out of the team GroupMe and loses portal access.
Hands over: A team with no stale accesses left open
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 14 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 7 | August - close the season out |
Field walked with the venue and condition signed off
Do this before you ask them to renew. A field handed back in good condition is the cheapest renewal argument there is.
Hands over: A signed condition report for the venue
|
Whoever manages the team |
TPL corporate | 10 days vs season end | nothing - can start now | |
| 10 | The field |
Field agreement renewed or re-executed
GATE
No field agreement, no home games. A team without a signed venue cannot be scheduled.
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: field agreements are sometimes MULTI-YEAR, so this does not fire every season - only when the agreement actually expires. Set the expiry on the team and this step appears in the year it matters. City-specific; the contact is the district athletic director, not the high school coaches. Greer and Mauldin are the live case.
Hands over: A signed agreement with dates the schedule can be built on
|
Whoever owns the entity |
Commissioner / League GM | -300 days vs season start | Relocation or rebrand decided for next season
|
Only if the field agreement expires |
| 12 | Relocation |
Relocation or rebrand decided for next season
The market grader already grades every market - use it.
Hands over: A decision, and a rebrand pathway if the answer is yes
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -310 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | |
| 20 | The field |
Dates and blackout days confirmed with the venue
Hands over: Confirmed home dates and blackout days
|
Whoever owns the entity |
Commissioner / League GM | -226 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 30 | The field |
Playing-field minimums re-checked against the manual
Operations Manual v8 locks the playing-field minimums. A field that drifted out of spec over a year is a forfeiture risk.
Hands over: A venue confirmed fit to play and stream
|
Commissioner / League GM |
Whoever owns the entity | -260 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 40 | August - rehire |
Head Coach - offer out in August, contract starts 1 September
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: the season ends 31 July, August closes the year out and is when we rehire, and contracts start 1 September.
Hands over: A signed contract and a filled seat
|
Whoever manages the team |
Team GM | -285 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 50 | August - rehire |
Assistant Coach - head coach picks them, TPL papers them
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: the season ends 31 July, August closes the year out and is when we rehire, and contracts start 1 September.
Hands over: A signed contract and a filled seat
|
Whoever manages the team |
Team GM | -285 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
TPL-managed only |
| 60 | Staff |
DSCE - contract starts 1 January
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: a DSCE contract does not start until January. Recruiting can run earlier, but the contract year begins 1 January - unlike coaching seats, which start 1 September.
Hands over: A signed DSCE contract
|
Whoever manages the team |
Team GM | -135 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 70 | August - rehire |
Director of Ballpark Operations - offer out in August, starts 1 September
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: the season ends 31 July, August closes the year out and is when we rehire, and contracts start 1 September.
Hands over: A signed contract and a filled seat
|
Whoever manages the team |
Team GM | -285 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
TPL-managed only |
| 80 | August - rehire |
Concessions Services - offer out in August, starts 1 September
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: the season ends 31 July, August closes the year out and is when we rehire, and contracts start 1 September.
Hands over: A signed contract and a filled seat
|
Whoever manages the team |
Team GM | -285 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
TPL-managed only |
| 90 | August - rehire |
Host Family Coordinator - confirmed in August
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: the season ends 31 July, August closes the year out and is when we rehire, and contracts start 1 September.
Hands over: A signed contract and a filled seat
|
Whoever manages the team |
Team GM | -285 days vs season start | Host families thanked and released
|
|
| 95 | Money and compliance |
Management services agreement re-executed for the new term
GATE
The MSA expires 31 August every year. Without a signed one, TPL is managing a team with no authority over its accounts and no right to its fee.
Hands over: An executed management services agreement for the new term
|
Management Services |
Management Services | -245 days vs season start | nothing - can start now | |
| 100 | Money and compliance |
Insurance renewed with TPL as additional insured
GATE
The manual requires TPL named as additional insured and a Certificate of Insurance furnished before opening and at each renewal.
Hands over: A current Certificate of Insurance naming TPL
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | -240 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 110 | Money and compliance |
Licences and permits renewed
Includes the food-service permit and the beer or alcohol licence - both have real lead times and both carry concession revenue.
Hands over: Current licences and permits on file
|
Management Services |
Whoever owns the entity | -210 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 120 | Money and compliance |
Sales tax account and resale certificate current
Hands over: A live sales tax account and a current resale certificate
|
Management Services |
Management Services | -210 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 130 | Money and compliance |
Royalty 3 percent true-up filed
GATE
Manual 13.1 - the 3 percent true-up on Gross Receipts over $618,000 is paid annually by January 31. Late fees and interest run from the due date.
Hands over: The filed true-up and any payment due
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | -105 days vs season start | Season P&L closed for the team
|
|
| 140 | Money and compliance |
Advertising fund invoiced
Manual 13.1 - due on the effective date and annually on 1 January.
Hands over: The advertising fund contribution invoiced and collected
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | -135 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 150 | Money and compliance |
Team budget set for the season
Hands over: An approved budget for the season
|
Management Services |
Team GM | -200 days vs season start | Season P&L closed for the team
|
|
| 160 | Revenue |
Sponsors signed for the season
Team Operations SOP: renew 60 days before expiry, sell from the rate card, never below floor.
Hands over: Signed sponsorship agreements and the amount sold
|
DSCE |
Management Services | -180 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 170 | Revenue |
Group and season tickets on sale
Hands over: Tickets on sale with the season's dates loaded
|
DSCE |
Team GM | -120 days vs season start | League schedule published and home dates confirmed
|
|
| 180 | Roster |
Roster rebuilt and players signed
No player signed until paid; no pitcher signed until housing and payment are both confirmed.
Hands over: A signed roster for the season
|
Team GM |
Whoever manages the team | -90 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 190 | Roster |
Host families re-confirmed
No housed player is signed until a family is confirmed.
Hands over: Confirmed host family placements
|
Team GM |
Whoever manages the team | -120 days vs season start | Host families thanked and released
|
|
| 200 | Kit |
Team gear ordered
Gear comes from Clarkston only.
Hands over: Gear ordered with a date it lands
|
Team GM |
Whoever manages the team | -150 days vs season start | Gear returned, counted and written off or carried
|
|
| 210 | Media |
Camera and stream checked before opening day
Press-box internet is the franchisee obligation - confirm it works before the install check.
Hands over: A stream proven working from the real venue
|
Foul Pole |
Team GM | -45 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
|
| 220 | Schedule | League schedule published and home dates confirmed | Commissioner / League GM |
-195 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|
||
| 230 | Season |
Game-day run-of-show refreshed
Hands over: A run-of-show the game-day crew can work from
|
Team GM |
Whoever manages the team | -30 days vs season start | Field agreement renewed or re-executed
|