Mavericks may be evicted from Adelanto stadium after lease ends

ADELANTO, Calif. (KABC) -- Excitement around the undefeated High Desert Mavericks is sky high, but fans are nervous about the team's future in Adelanto.

The stadium is currently leased by the city of Adelanto to the team for $1 a year. However, after spending about $2 million in taxpayer money since 2012, the city council voted to terminate the lease, saying the stadium serves no public purpose.

"The city's case is thinner, flimsier, and more full of holes than the thinnest slice of Swiss cheese known to mankind," said the club's managing partner Dave Heller in a statement.

According to Heller, the club won an injunction against the city, so they will continue to play until the problem is solved through arbitration.

"To be able to go out and help the community with a place to go, to show their kids and grandkids the same experience they had when they came to games is what we really want to do," said the club's general manager Ben Hemmen.

Heller says their lease is set to expire at the end of this season, but the club has an option for two more years. However beyond that, it's becoming unlikely that the Mavericks will remain in Adelanto afterwards.

ABC7 reached out to Adelanto City Hall for comment, but the mayor declined comment, saying it would be more appropriate to comment after a court hearing this Thursday.