Ballpark Profile: Minute Maid Park
Name: Minute Maid Park
Location: Houston, Texas
Opened: 7 April 2000
Architect: HOK Sport
Cost: $250 Million
Capacity: 40,950 (original)
41,168 (present)
Surface: Platinum TE Paspalum (natural grass)
Minute Maid Park -- like several of the other parks we've profiled -- was once our home ballpark.
Thinking about it, here's the complete list of 'home' ballparks:
Oakland Coliseum (1985-1994)
Candlestick Park (1995-1999)
PacBell/AT&T/Oracle Park (2000-2002)
Riverfront Stadium (2002)
Great American Ball Park (2003)
Minute Maid Park (2004)
Coors Field (2005-2006)
New Comiskey Park/Wrigley Field (2006-present)
Citizens Bank Park (future)
So, some personal experience here.
When Minute Maid Park (then called Enron Field) opened, it was universally (and fairly) panned. It was gimmicky to the extreme, with the ill-fated "Tal's Hill" and in-play flagpole in center field -- which originally extended to an eye-popping 436 feet.
Both the hill and the flagpole seemed to be there just for the sake of being there, and both were (thankfully) scheduled for removal during the 2015-16 offseason. (The Astros made the postseason in 2015, which disrupted the timeline, and the hill was not removed until the start of the 2017 season.)
Like Camden Yards and Petco Park, the design for the ballpark incorporated an existing structure, in this case Union Station, a train station built in 1911, which was one of the busiest rail hubs through the end of World War II. The station is now the main entrance foyer for the ballpark, with team offices upstairs.
The train motif continues with a larger-than-life steam engine that runs along the tracks of the large retractable roof. The train runs and sounds its horn after Astros home runs. Sure, it's gimmicky, but fans (especially kids) love it. And the guy who runs it is the best kind of hometown fan.
And so we get to it: the roof.
First, the outside aesthetics. The roof and supporting structure of acres of glass wall are not unatrractive to look at; but the color scheme is. Scroll back to the previous ballpark profiles of Chase Field, Citizens Bank, Miller Park . . . it's like MLB got an unlimited supply of weird turquoise/teal paint and they just can't stop using it.
I don't get it. I don't like it.
As for the criteria that makes a good ballpark: Minute Maid checks many of them: it's right downtown, which is good. It's easily accessible with several public transit options. It fits the aesthetic of the neighborhood (after a fashion), and the fan experience is better-than-average, especially the outstanding food options.
And, when the roof is open, it's a really nice place to see a ballgame.
But. The. Roof. Is. Never. Open.
It's funny; if you search for images of Minute Maid Park, a number of in-game shots with the roof open show up, and they look great. But I lived there for two years, and never once was the roof open for a game. Nobody I've talked to has ever been to a game with the roof open.
It's a completely different feel with the roof closed. It's dark, it's artificial-feeling.
Believe me, having lived there, I know Houston has some incredibly unpleasant, even unsafely hot summer days. And, by all means, the roof should be closed in those events. It also gets more than its share of summer rainstorms.
But, if it's just a warm/hot day? Open the dang roof. People across the country love sitting out on a warm evening watching baseball. It gets plenty hot in Cincinnati, and St. Louis, and . . . almost everywhere baseball is played. I've been to some extremely warm games in the bleachers at Wrigley.
That's part of the fun.
Just because you can close the roof doesn't mean you should.
Have your own thoughts and feelings about Minute Maid Park? Put them in the comments below for a chance to win a FREE PRINT from Ballpark Blueprints!
13918 comments
https://telegra.ph/q4mulr4c-23726lnp-06-17
https://rentry.co/rb00f6y2_2ee1bw7f_3y8
https://paste.ee/p/eboaQ
https://paiza.io/projects/mnzt2_yn-TRwbMQ7TtqZGg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/kotiqepiwu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/75m0qat1/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/iBm4HYaj
https://pastelink.net/qxgmqsmo
https://pastebin.com/FAdpMQ1g
https://telegra.ph/noo1y3cf-ju6bqgh9-06-17
https://rentry.co/wqliahqz_wuuy1pps_y01
https://paste.ee/p/LamhI
https://paiza.io/projects/th83L98W3998QoU-_Nn3oQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/sumagopoja/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/p4z1da9t/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/Htqdgaef
https://pastelink.net/d3mf5z3q
https://pastebin.com/fbxMzfzC
https://telegra.ph/nbhudlrj-8yodn4aw-06-17
https://rentry.co/102qw16m_5wf39ezx_kud
https://paste.ee/p/ImhXm
https://paiza.io/projects/2cghkRZM4XqY7JRKZLBy9A?language=php
https://jsbin.com/tipetohoba/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/02564cej/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/6pDkLMoZ
https://pastelink.net/ykv7ga90
https://telegra.ph/oz45yw8j-8rn7lorz-06-17
https://rentry.co/e2m577nq_k49lwu2v_slb
https://paste.ee/p/NwFH4
https://paiza.io/projects/jx_RQHU86KH_CcuBfeo7Ag?language=php
https://jsbin.com/hesozuxevo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/43ancojz/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/uASVx1GR
https://anotepad.com/notes/pwxytmkk
https://pastelink.net/ip6vafds
https://pastebin.com/YgytKYSp
https://telegra.ph/t57jpbwk-yorz4qzw-06-17
https://rentry.co/eajl3mf5_ycnfi9sb_ojj
https://paste.ee/p/IbYVx
https://paiza.io/projects/D2bxV80oJ9NC4M96f5A42w?language=php
https://jsbin.com/howipewedi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/sfoqvh94/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/L7ryvMq3
https://anotepad.com/notes/phsfanns
https://pastelink.net/tpdwh1i6
https://pastebin.com/VaC7GrFk
https://telegra.ph/4t8wuxki-e78fw0rr-06-17
https://rentry.co/gp6fej6m_i1fyg56o_f5s
https://paste.ee/p/CPocA
https://paiza.io/projects/eEOIXy-xk6MofQoPTUWudw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/kicujasahu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/593sxo4b/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/Z7ZMfTi8
https://pastelink.net/adyy15g9
https://telegra.ph/4n85gc5t-z9aqu4fs-06-17
https://rentry.co/wa7gbzpb_qq7bxzro_x0v
https://paste.ee/p/Tv0yb
https://paiza.io/projects/bT22hlxlmk0Yx4kIS22kCw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/cumivopofi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/yx1tkus3/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/yXsHtPxL
https://pastelink.net/b4d409cf
https://pastebin.com/Nn9sCw1y
https://telegra.ph/chunwhkj-401nvckh-06-17
https://rentry.co/sas9uqg8_rqkg744u_mto
https://paste.ee/p/cy1Va
https://paiza.io/projects/svemn0mIFNKK_2Zf2BCbdg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/cucunuxuna/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/w3zuy1rp/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/uXxTJFD5
https://pastelink.net/cj3w16ig
https://pastebin.com/Q3RtpHz2
https://telegra.ph/z2okdfun-223kqzgj-06-17
https://rentry.co/nhy8nchg_5dra6emn_fg4
https://paste.ee/p/v8edF
https://paiza.io/projects/s1eD0yT7o_epjJvh1UU1vg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/detacehegu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/g95L2a64/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/xyYvrWrI
https://pastelink.net/zxd6qbop
https://pastebin.com/ZX5LsAcA
https://telegra.ph/64ktu6zn-oo2ps0zc-06-17
https://rentry.co/xe4b0z0w_y32px439_0f2
https://paste.ee/p/Nho2z
https://paiza.io/projects/sIpOm4wAqxqj94XM_Mz7sQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/bexezawile/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/4cmj7toa/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/7n5G1Nn2
https://anotepad.com/notes/db2h8a54
https://pastelink.net/caiy6yw8
https://pastebin.com/SMxrQkPt
https://telegra.ph/ix6fhgbc-loodc65u-06-17
https://rentry.co/w33rdcko_lsj13gxp_xb9
https://paste.ee/p/2xQaG
https://jsbin.com/dokuxalela/1/edit?html,output
https://pastelink.net/t6gph40n
https://telegra.ph/xkbxler3-uhteuo87-06-17
https://rentry.co/mwya9zft_4zy0yao3_svx
https://paste.ee/p/RMc7m
https://paiza.io/projects/YNeW8he2Lypf0sTrDjIZhA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/lovavipeze/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/0om2ta1r/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/9rL0UiSG
https://anotepad.com/notes/xx4yaam8
https://pastelink.net/6vijga97
https://pastebin.com/4yd1WAzS
https://www.taptap.io/post/7588878
https://www.taptap.io/post/7588877
https://www.taptap.io/post/7588876
https://www.taptap.io/post/7588932
https://www.taptap.io/post/7588931
https://www.taptap.io/post/7588929
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589021
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589018
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589017
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589116
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589113
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589112
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589183
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589181
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589180
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589243
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589241
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589240
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589306
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589305
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589304
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589347
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589346
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589345
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589396
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589395
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589394
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589444
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589443
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589442
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589478
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589476
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589475
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589566
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589565
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589564
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589597
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589596
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589594
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589628
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589625
https://www.taptap.io/post/7589624
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assista-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-dublado-online-legendado-hd-gratis-by-assista-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-dublado-online-legendado-hd-gratis
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-completo-online-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-dublado-online-legendado-hd-gratis
https://www.scoop.it/topic/1080p-assistir-divertida-mente-2-pt-2024-dublado-online-hd-gratis
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-divertida-mente-2-2024-hd-gratis-filme-completo-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-completo-online-dublado-em-portugues-by-assistir-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-completo-online-dublado-em-portugues-3
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-divertida-mente-2-online-dublado-e-legendado-2024-pt-by-assistir-divertida-mente-2-online-dublado-e-legendado-2024-pt
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-hd-divertida-mente-2-filme-completo-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-divertida-mente-2-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-hd-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese-by-assistir-hd-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/topflix-assistir-filme-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-online-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-2024-filme-completo-dublado-e-legendado
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-online-dublado-e-legendado-2024-pt
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-hd-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-filme-completo-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-bad-boys-tudo-ou-nada-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-hd-haikyu-a-batalha-na-lixeira-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/topflix-assistir-filme-haikyu-a-batalha-na-lixeira-online-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-haikyu-a-batalha-na-lixeira-2024-filme-completo-dublado-e-legendado
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-hd-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese-by-assistir-hd-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-completo-dublado-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/topflix-assistir-filme-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-online-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-completo-dublado-e-legendado
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assista-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-dublado-online-legendado-hd-gratis
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-online-dublado-e-legendado-2024-pt
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-dublado-online-legendado-hd-gratis-by-assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-dublado-online-legendado-hd-gratis
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-filme-completo-online-dublado-em-portugues
https://www.scoop.it/topic/1080p-assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-pt-2024-dublado-online-hd-gratis
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-film-completo-dublado-0nline
https://www.scoop.it/topic/assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-hd-gratis-filme-completo-em-portuguese-by-assistir-o-reino-do-planeta-dos-macacos-2024-hd-gratis-filme-completo-em-portuguese
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ters-yuz-2-turkce-dublaj-ve-altyaz-l-izle-1080p
https://www.scoop.it/topic/tum-film-ters-yuz-2-izle-2024-turkce-dublaj-full-hd-izle-by-tum-film-ters-yuz-2-2024-turkce-dublaj-full-hd-i-zle
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ters-yuz-2-2024-full-izle-turkce-dublaj
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ters-yuz-2-2024-izle-filmi-full-hd-1080p-izle-turkce-dublaj-full-hd-1080p
https://www.scoop.it/topic/tum-film-ters-yuz-2-inside-out-2-2024-turkce-dublaj-full-hd-izle
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ters-yuz-2-filmi-full-izle-2024-tek-parca-1080p
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ters-yuz-2-izle-turkce-dublaj-tek-parca-4k-1080p-full-hd
https://www.scoop.it/topic/tum-film-ters-yuz-2-izle-2024-turkce-dub
https://www.scoop.it/topic/streamcloud-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-stream-deutsch
https://www.scoop.it/topic/kostenlos-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-film-deutsch-ganzer-anschauen-hd
https://www.scoop.it/topic/kino-stream-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-ganzer-film-deutsch-hd-1080p
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ganzer-film-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-stream-deutsch-kostenlos-complett-by-ganzer-film-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-stream-deutsch-kostenlos-complett-8
https://www.scoop.it/topic/ganzer-film-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-stream-deutsch-kostenlos-by-ganzer-film-alles-steht-kopf-2-2024-stream-deutsch-kostenlos-1
https://www.penana.com/story/156217/pelisplus-ver-intensa-mente-2-pel%C3%ADcula-completa-online-en-espa%C3%B1ol-y-latino/issue/1
https://www.penana.com/story/156218/cuevana-3-ver-intensamente-2-2024-pel%C3%ADcula-completa-en-espa%C3%B1ol-y-latino/issue/1
https://www.penana.com/story/156219/cuevana-3-ver-intensamente-2-2024-online-en-espa%C3%B1ol-y-latino/issue/1
https://www.penana.com/story/156220/cuevana-3-ver-intensa-mente-2-pel%C3%ADcula-completa-online-en-espa%C3%B1ol-y-latino/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156221/pelispedia-ver-intensamente-2-2024-pelicula-online-en-espa%C3%B1ol/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156222/cuevana-3-ver-intensamente-2-2024-pel%C3%ADcula-online-gratis/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156223/pelisplus-ver-intensamente-2-pel%C3%ADcula-completa-en-espa%C3%B1ol-online-latino/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156231/inside-out-2-fullmovie-download-on-english-720p-480p-1080p-hd/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156232/inside-out-2-2024-fullmovie-download-free-on-english-720p-480p-1080p-hd/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156233/inside-out-2-2024-fullmovie-download-free-720p-480p-1080p-hd-4k-english/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156234/watch-inside-out-2-fullmovie-2024-mp4-720p-1080p-hd-4k-english/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156235/watch-full-inside-out-2-2024-fullmovie-free-online-on-streamings-disney-pixar/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156241/watch-inside-out-2-fullmovie-free-online-on-streamig-disney-pixar/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156244/download-123movies-inside-out-2-2024-fullmovie-download-free-720p-480/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156247/watch-inside-out-2-fullmovie-free-online-on-streamings-disney-pixar/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156248/full-watch-inside-out-2-2024-fullmovie-free-on-english/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156249/watch-inside-out-2-2024-fullmovie-online-for-free-on-streamings/issue/1?published=success
https://www.penana.com/story/156251/official-disney-pixar-inside-out-2-fullmovie-free-mp4-720p-1080p-hd/issue/1?published=success
https://hackmd.io/4VhKHAPnTbWusmaOH7nm_g
https://matters.town/a/9xzx2rsfifus?utm_source=share_copy&referral=bebedada146
https://teletype.in/@dfgdsgdtrgtedgsedrg/HflWNEYoNBb
https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/fdthyfxyhterryertedxydesrtg
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/nRxmFTjm
https://demo.hedgedoc.org/s/YHvUQVin3
https://community.thoracic.org/news/cghhfhhdfrgdfgsdfge
https://cofradesdegranada.ideal.es/articles/dghxhthrhgstdrgyfergsedg
https://b.cari.com.my/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=5356723&extra=
https://www.planetminecraft.com/forums/minecraft/discussion/fghjdhtrhrredyreyteryte-685690/
https://www.pastery.net/yjkdah/
https://paiza.io/projects/Fuvq5Vvu0wgmd—F-DRbPw?language=php
https://paste.firnsy.com/paste/DjkHgQJQli0
http://paste.jp/89e8563a/
https://pastelink.net/4prycr01
https://bitbin.it/0tVkbAXz/
http://paste.thezomg.com/206221/85732261/
https://soundcloud.com/ndzncnu685/dsfgzeftewrfewsfws
https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/g/chromium-reviews/c/wjrj-vEyJ_A
https://paste.myst.rs/fqpw834o
https://paste.ee/p/Qwdzg
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/reremedita6/profile
https://www.artstation.com/mayor-of-kingstown-season-3-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/mayor-of-kingstown-season-3-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/bugaw-2023-online-free/profile
https://www.artstation.com/fury-2014-full-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/mortal-kombat-legends-scorpions-revenge-online/profile
https://telegra.ph/eyblp2o7-awk5e4ft-06-16
https://rentry.co/06xfunjp_b8a77c19_zjp
https://paste.ee/
https://pastelink.net/nkkjv2vr
https://www.artstation.com/luck-2022-fullmovie-download-free-720p-1080p-hd-english/profile
https://www.artstation.com/kingdom-3-the-flame-of-destiny-online/profile
https://telegra.ph/elxqj7q9-qcxp7hu3-06-16
https://rentry.co/9674ctio_5xv22ogf_6pn
https://paste.ee/p/capBs
https://paiza.io/projects/ykoA0m6C7AmGLgtcZEsbWQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/guzuzikiho/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/d5hb4qnx/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/LNWKSZQR
https://pastelink.net/0wk4dz9h
https://telegra.ph/y9ws1mgk-lslvuvin-06-16
https://rentry.co/oesbtbol_gub6m02u_n0z
https://paste.ee/p/eDwhR
https://paiza.io/projects/Cgz19kr_5vNbf7BI2cH1Xg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/ralawehunu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/q6dxLuca/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/XPkxgoqE
https://anotepad.com/notes/55ydpw55
https://pastelink.net/ddps5zzr
https://pastebin.com/htLGj9Mh
https://telegra.ph/2rvllqkz-osks4iza-06-16
https://rentry.co/mkiu5ubl_2g782kuq_5iu
https://paste.ee/
https://jsbin.com/nanihohoju/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/80pgLok9/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/fF379i38
https://anotepad.com/notes/7t4r25ah
https://paste.mozilla.org/ZPBFPG3v
https://pastelink.net/ig1apgbe
https://pastebin.com/gci7m7JQ
https://www.artstation.com/mavka-the-forest-song-2023-online/profile