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
36 steps · 5 contract gates · 1 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 |
| 50 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Field agreement approved
GATE
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 approved agreement
|
Reggie TPL corporate |
45 days after start | Decision to launch - no franchise owner found by 1 June
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 60 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Launch the entity
Hands over: The formed LLC
|
Ashton TPL corporate |
50 days after start | Field agreement approved
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 70 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Get EIN
Hands over: EIN
|
Summer TPL corporate |
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 |
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 |
60 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 100 | 3. Agreement and entity |
Sign the lease
GATE
This is what OPEN means. No schedule can be built before it exists and Foul Pole cannot plan a camera install without a confirmed venue.
Hands over: The executed lease and confirmed home venue
|
Reggie TPL corporate |
Commissioner / League GM | 65 days after start | Field agreement approved
|
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
|
Reggie TPL corporate |
70 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 120 | 4. Books and money | QuickBooks set up | Summer TPL corporate |
75 days after start | Establish the bank account
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 130 | 4. Books and money | Sales tax account and resale certificate | Summer TPL corporate |
80 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 140 | 4. Books and money | Square set up | Summer TPL corporate |
80 days after start | Establish the bank account
|
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 |
62 days after start | Establish the bank account
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 147 | 4. Books and money | SimpleTix set up | Mary Scott TPL corporate |
80 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 150 | 4. Books and money |
Insurance set up
GATE
Required coverage with TPL as additional insured.
|
Alec TPL corporate |
80 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 160 | 4. Books and money | Royalty and technology payment | Summer 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 |
0 days vs season start | Sales tax account and resale certificate
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 180 | 5. Presence | Set up socials | Sarah TPL corporate |
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 |
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 |
85 days after start | Set up website
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 210 | 5. Presence | Get on the League website | Zach TPL corporate |
85 days after start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 220 | 6. TPL systems | Add team to TPL Portal for forms and database | Alec 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 |
75 days after start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 240 | 6. TPL systems | Set up the portal invoice | Alec TPL corporate |
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 |
85 days after start | Launch the entity
|
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 | Launch the entity
|
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 | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only |
| 280 | 7. Staff | Hire DBO | David TPL corporate |
-256 days vs season start | Launch the entity
|
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 |
-250 days vs season start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 300 | 7. Staff |
Hire concession manager and beer garden if applicable
The beer or alcohol licence has its own lead time - start it with the hire.
|
Payton TPL corporate |
-250 days vs season start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 310 | 8. Ballpark |
Internet at the ballpark
Hands over: Confirmed working internet
|
Chris TPL corporate |
-80 days vs season start | Sign the 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 TPL corporate |
Foul Pole | -60 days vs season start | Internet at the ballpark
|
TPL-managed only |
| 330 | 8. Ballpark |
Order the start-up package
Logo is already built by this point.
|
Angie TPL corporate |
-150 days vs season start | Build the brand for that team in that city
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 340 | 8. Ballpark |
Order team equipment
Ordered 1 May. Concessions kit, tents, group area, water coolers.
|
Angie TPL corporate |
-14 days vs season start | Launch the entity
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 350 | 9. Revenue |
Start corporate sponsorship sales
Starts in January.
|
David TPL corporate |
-135 days vs season start | Hire DSCE
|
TPL-managed only | |
| 360 | 9. Revenue |
Start group ticket sales
Starts 15 March.
|
David TPL corporate |
-61 days vs season start | Hire DSCE
|
TPL-managed only |