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
33 steps · 5 contract gates · 10 can start straight away
| # | Phase | Step | Who | Hands to | When | Blocked by | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Decide | Target state and region identified | TPL corporate |
0 days after start | nothing - can start now | ||
| 20 | Decide |
Candidate markets graded
The market grader already grades every market. Use it - do not re-survey.
|
TPL corporate |
14 days after start | nothing - can start now | ||
| 22 | Securing a field for a market |
Market identified and graded
The market grader already grades every market. Use it rather than re-surveying.
Hands over: The chosen market and its grade
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 0 days after start | nothing - can start now | |
| 24 | Securing a field for a market |
Candidate fields identified in the market
Usually a high school or district facility. Playing-field minimums in Operations Manual v8 decide what is even eligible.
Hands over: A shortlist of fields
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 5 days after start | Market identified and graded
|
|
| 26 | Securing a field for a market |
First contact made with the district athletic director
The contact is the DISTRICT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, not the high school coaches. Going to the coaches first is how these stall - they cannot grant use of the facility and it sets the wrong expectation.
Hands over: An opened conversation
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 8 days after start | Candidate fields identified in the market
|
|
| 28 | Securing a field for a market |
Terms negotiated - dates, rent, concessions, upfit
Home dates, who keeps concession revenue, what upfit TPL pays for, and what happens to the field after the season.
Hands over: Agreed terms
|
TPL corporate |
Outside counsel | 14 days after start | First contact made with the district athletic director
|
|
| 30 | Securing a field for a market |
Agreement drafted
Hands over: The draft agreement
|
Outside counsel |
Whoever owns the entity | 18 days after start | Terms negotiated - dates, rent, concessions, upfit
|
|
| 30 | Decide |
League name and branding decided
Hands over: Approved league name and branding
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 30 days after start | nothing - can start now | |
| 32 | Securing a field for a market |
Board or council vote passed
GATE
No signature is possible until this passes. If the field owner does not require a vote, close this step with a note saying so.
Alec, 1 Oct 2026: depending on who owns the field, an agreement can be fully negotiated and drafted and still need a school board or town council VOTE before anyone can sign. Votes run on their own calendar, not ours - find the meeting date early and work back from it. This is the single most common reason a field slips.
Hands over: A passed vote
|
Whoever owns the entity |
Whoever owns the entity | 35 days after start | Agreement drafted
|
|
| 40 | Stand it up | League entity formed | TPL corporate |
35 days after start | Agreement drafted
|
||
| 50 | Stand it up | Domain registered and Google Workspace set up | TPL corporate |
40 days after start | Agreement drafted
|
||
| 60 | Stand it up | Website live | TPL corporate |
55 days after start | Domain registered and Google Workspace set up
|
||
| 70 | Stand it up | Social accounts created and handles secured | TPL corporate |
55 days after start | Agreement drafted
|
||
| 80 | People |
Commissioner candidate presented
GATE
Director of Baseball Operations Agreement 2.5 - a candidate within 90 days of the Launch Date.
Hands over: Commissioner candidate
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 90 days after start | nothing - can start now | |
| 90 | People |
Commissioner contracted
Hands over: Signed Commissioner agreement and league assignment
|
TPL corporate |
Commissioner / League GM | 120 days after start | Commissioner candidate presented
|
|
| 100 | People |
League added to Schedule A for the base-fee cycle
GATE
Director of Baseball Operations Agreement 5.2 - a new league first counts toward the base fee on the September 1 beginning the Contract Year of its first season.
|
TPL corporate |
130 days after start | 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: Founding franchise target list
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 60 days after start | Candidate markets graded
|
|
| 120 | Sell it |
Franchise sales pipeline opened
Each sale runs its own franchise sale pathway, which then feeds a team launch pathway.
Hands over: An open franchise sales pipeline
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 60 days after start | Founding franchise targets identified
|
|
| 130 | Season | Season dates and schedule framework set | Commissioner / League GM |
150 days after start | Commissioner contracted
|
||
| 140 | Season | League added to the portal and the public directory | TPL corporate |
150 days after start | Website live
|
||
| 150 | Season | Announcement published | TPL corporate |
160 days after start | League added to the portal and the public directory
|
||
| 310 | People | Commissioner in seat | TPL corporate |
0 days after start | nothing - can start now | ||
| 320 | Teams |
Minimum team count confirmed
GATE
A league cannot schedule without enough teams committed. Confirm before publishing any schedule.
Hands over: Confirmed team count
|
Commissioner / League GM |
Commissioner / League GM | 30 days after start | nothing - can start now | |
| 330 | Teams |
Every team has an executed field agreement
GATE
Field agreements are city-specific and contract-critical. The contact is the district athletic director, not the high school coaches.
Hands over: Every team’s executed field agreement
|
Commissioner / League GM |
Commissioner / League GM | 60 days after start | Minimum team count confirmed
|
|
| 340 | Rules | Rules, eligibility and roster submission published | Commissioner / League GM |
45 days after start | nothing - can start now | ||
| 350 | Rules | Umpire assignment set up | Commissioner / League GM |
60 days after start | nothing - can start now | ||
| 360 | Schedule |
Schedule built and published
Hands over: Published schedule
|
Commissioner / League GM |
Foul Pole | 75 days after start | Minimum team count confirmed Every team has an executed field agreement
|
|
| 370 | Media | Camera installs scheduled across the league | Foul Pole |
80 days after start | Schedule built and published
|
||
| 380 | Media |
Streaming live and tested for every team
Hands over: Streaming live and tested for every team
|
Foul Pole |
Commissioner / League GM | 95 days after start | Camera installs scheduled across the league
|
|
| 390 | Media | League sponsorship and advertising inventory opened | Commissioner / League GM |
80 days after start | Streaming live and tested for every team
|
||
| 400 | Media | Standings and stats live | Commissioner / League GM |
100 days after start | Schedule built and published
|
||
| 410 | Portal | Commissioner portal access granted | TPL corporate |
30 days after start | nothing - can start now | ||
| 420 | Season | First game played | Commissioner / League GM |
110 days after start | Schedule built and published Streaming live and tested for every team
|