High Desert sold to Main Street Baseball
The Mavericks are the second minor league baseball team to fall under the Main Street Baseball ownership group, joining the Quad Cities River Bandits (Class A Midwest League) of Davenport, Iowa. Heller and Herrfeldt purchased the River Bandits in November, 2007, and have led the team to unprecedented growth in the past three seasons.
Brett Sports originally brought the Mavericks to the High Desert in 1990 and the team will be spending its 21st season in Adelanto in 2011.
"We are extremely excited about joining the Cal League and expanding our operations to California," said Heller. "We have been able to do great things in the Quad Cities over the past three seasons, with much more to come, and we are excited to have this kind of opportunity with this franchise as well."
"As a native Californian, I could not be more excited about owning a team in my home state," said Herrfeldt. "California is a special place, and we have a lot of special promotions and ideas planned for this season and this club."
"The Cal League is very excited that the High Desert Club has been sold to Dave Heller and Bob Herrfeldt, successful and distinguished owners of the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Midwest League," added California League President Charlie Blaney. "They have a proven track record as Minor League team owners, and we welcome them to the great California League."
"The Seattle Mariners and our entire Player Development department are extremely excited about our new working relationship with Main Street Baseball," said Pedro Grifol, Director, Minor League Operations for the Seattle Mariners. "These guys bring a record of success that we feel will be a great benefit to the Seattle Mariners organization, the Cal League and the City of Adelanto. We welcome the entire Main Street Baseball ownership and staff to the Mariner family."
In the three seasons under Main Street Baseball, the River Bandits have increased attendance by over 50% and have brought in a new naming rights partner in Modern Woodmen of America, completed a number of significant stadium renovation projects and have generated unprecedented enthusiasm in the market for minor league baseball. Main Street Baseball has also earned both local and national recognition for a host of unique and innovative promotions; the team was named "Best Family Entertainment" by The Quad-City Times each of the past two years, and Modern Woodmen Park was named one of the top 10 places in the country to make a baseball pilgrimage.
Main Street Baseball's Vice President Kirk Goodman will oversee the operation with several current Mavericks staff members retained under the new ownership. The team will soon be placing a new General Manager for its High Desert Club and will be announcing other plans for the 2011 season in the coming weeks.