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!
13925 comments
https://telegra.ph/5eb2fchj-ioxcy2cb-06-07
https://rentry.co/ekcogb7g_k4p6qq32_4p9
https://paste.ee/p/e230q
https://paiza.io/projects/5m1aPuPiWSWPoTP4yHsdyg?language=php
https://paste.laravel.io/336c42fe-a2c5-4c83-9651-b961275914e0
https://jsbin.com/ralenihodi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/53wg0vau/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/38xVJGbs
https://anotepad.com/notes/xp6sw8hy
https://paste.mozilla.org/1NghYz3j
https://pastelink.net/jwpjqndr
https://telegra.ph/230mnejd-t9egohov-06-07
https://rentry.co/itux6u2a_ecm3xjbd_33f
https://paste.ee/p/aruWn
https://paiza.io/projects/yBHW-5VM6g3iixEKMdG_sw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/cuhelobunu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/v9hf3auo/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/6ADl2XDt
https://anotepad.com/notes/th5xd3yc
https://paste.mozilla.org/hwzqoory
https://pastelink.net/hzzscy9m
https://pastebin.com/GbMJwDXK
https://telegra.ph/e6q2bk2e-t87sbbtp-06-07
https://rentry.co/vizvwb37_77ed60s2_r8j
https://paste.ee/p/zUeKs
https://paiza.io/projects/O-S1WRscsUuYO7SaNiVPJg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/herekivevu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/n26gw4ca/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/MxKOK5Cp
https://anotepad.com/notes/4c65ykyy
https://paste.mozilla.org/BJFigu6J
https://pastelink.net/vlq9fhxg
https://pastebin.com/nHVvC5ty
https://telegra.ph/c8r0dmgu-2l5dv64e-06-07
https://rentry.co/a3h26ofh_uqxz987y_i0l
https://paste.ee/p/sNNko
https://paiza.io/projects/N8K52l7cATB8B1FIWTuCHQ?language=php
https://paste.laravel.io/75bbb0ae-f70f-4483-b692-b58562b7b55a
https://jsbin.com/wolomalani/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/9tazdb0s/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/JQFM3jHk
https://anotepad.com/notes/d7y9d3hj
https://paste.mozilla.org/UydkhKAs
https://pastelink.net/48m0b2r3
https://pastebin.com/9afXg3WW
https://telegra.ph/fsx068bb-gipfbj9e-06-07
https://rentry.co/c0j3s513_cqfac1hi_6i8
https://paste.ee/p/uoZZU
https://paiza.io/projects/YuZkvhdVEhm8ZCxT01vNsQ?language=php
https://paste.laravel.io/a7d478ac-e5c4-4d43-9574-78469fdc901d
https://jsbin.com/riluvikeli/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/257u9tvw/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/vRLYKj3T
https://anotepad.com/notes/ygmbet67
https://paste.mozilla.org/iV7DhtHF
https://pastelink.net/8m7ia9eh
https://pastebin.com/YeeBjwg4
https://telegra.ph/fdbkcemj-5jr8hfgz-06-07
https://rentry.co/ur9pk7v4_3k4yf3wg_iu4
https://paste.ee/p/LNAdL
https://paiza.io/projects/pAvf0bIdeM8KJYb06qQOrg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/sigaqinapo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/1oqdrvw7/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/tfrNbtZf
https://paste.mozilla.org/rTZxZWsE
https://pastelink.net/q8nmvbfo
https://pastebin.com/UqXpKCZV
https://telegra.ph/66r5qttx-tr1751oh-06-07
https://rentry.co/q1rqe0ud_7wg89vdn_tsy
https://paste.ee/p/HQ2cj
https://paiza.io/projects/e0IVne4nT5HHZf6w8LBhFA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/gibuwelexo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/4as0qnbo/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/TuMx7Dzy
https://anotepad.com/notes/jqranwp9
https://paste.mozilla.org/gWzbEbOE
https://pastelink.net/z05ntvta
https://pastebin.com/xFSDyMfd
https://telegra.ph/gu5q6j12-1pf1p3wy-06-07
https://rentry.co/kpmq87el_wiyaxmqi_1yj
https://paste.ee/p/HMXwE
https://paiza.io/projects/rGIwCx2pW4qX05l0YW7UTg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/lurugojave/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/ft73hwxb/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/rXYZTjvP
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?mnbv
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?cxzl
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?kjhg
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?fdsa
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?poiu
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?ytre
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?wqmn
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?bvcx
https://www.artstation.com/pelisplus-ver-del-reves-2-pelicula-completa-espanol/profile?zlkj
https://paiza.io/projects/Zyt2LPhfrpANcQ04_YVpsw
https://jsbin.com/lojisigowu/edit?html,output
https://hackmd.io/FE9zZia4Tz2Wi9nafybr-A
https://glot.io/snippets/gwwft9bxxu
https://jsfiddle.net/Dahliacute/s5cajoqg/1/
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/5bf8527c
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/9d5ed106
https://pastelink.net/9m8zae7a
https://binshare.net/Qg3wa8VQRUisoRjam0kr
https://matters.town/a/03wv8mgynmg8
https://friendpaste.com/mtEsLFvH81InoWazEL8m9
https://snippet.host/rtixkc
https://yamcode.com/vgjxfxft-8
https://tempaste.com/Lie5OxY73LN
https://demo.hedgedoc.org/s/r6OigPhu3
https://telegra.ph/kn8yvipn-lriaqrn1-06-07
https://rentry.co/40vd0d9e_ks0uvqml_5j0
https://paste.ee/p/ta19d
https://paiza.io/projects/nG38rcKFedBn7oV01xOiVw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/fijaxosayo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/wzms23r8/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/vVIkSUbV
https://telegra.ph/kn8yvipn-lriaqrn1-06-07
https://rentry.co/40vd0d9e_ks0uvqml_5j0
https://paste.ee/p/ta19d
https://paiza.io/projects/nG38rcKFedBn7oV01xOiVw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/fijaxosayo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/wzms23r8/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/vVIkSUbV
https://telegra.ph/smsrbmk1-k3h8bivw-06-07
https://rentry.co/as6jmatp_la3ibg0y_2ca
https://paste.ee/p/QySOh
https://paiza.io/projects/xam2RBtrGNZsRgSoomW9Zg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/yadunerede/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/ce038spn/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/xC9XKaAX
https://telegra.ph/edo0x1iv-q0rfmjvk-06-07
https://rentry.co/jcq46pxa_o46l1scs_c7r
https://paste.ee/p/4d3Kn
https://paiza.io/projects/S1hSvzNPImzYe_7MyhIsqA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/cuceripexo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/mfbj86w3/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/PC7UPM4w
https://telegra.ph/r1t0blzg-h89yy8qi-06-07
https://rentry.co/msh81sgm_onqbvqth_obu
https://paste.ee/p/dCPWA
https://paiza.io/projects/cuyVw24JMMT1bCR10rfwTQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/vacuzituvi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/mLz6j54e/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/wnpEbTtp
https://telegra.ph/vhb02rxe-txvb8baw-06-07
https://rentry.co/azg9jbyo_tix6kphd_lt9
https://paste.ee/p/OYSGz
https://paiza.io/projects/G1NhaD0BIq3X13vtu05Vrw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/liqixinace/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/ayzwmt8x/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/75SnxDRM
https://telegra.ph/ll525zpv-m8lljfuh-06-07
https://rentry.co/5h3ydwve_lvpwsjdm_mez
https://paste.ee/p/BxQlm
https://paiza.io/projects/yrQ9LZuaZ46R6DQ_HwM9rg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/zuduhinoku/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/efzxa08w/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/GJF57sX1
https://telegra.ph/ohnouemc-10i6iykn-06-07
https://rentry.co/8cfabdvm_xw5rsus2_um5
https://paste.ee/p/jrsza
https://paiza.io/projects/6uKA6ec7N9D6uKWlLEfiyw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/sazimubube/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/pjLv6zs8/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/PDQZfxse
https://telegra.ph/ohnouemc-10i6iykn-06-07
https://rentry.co/8cfabdvm_xw5rsus2_um5
https://paste.ee/p/jrsza
https://paiza.io/projects/6uKA6ec7N9D6uKWlLEfiyw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/sazimubube/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/pjLv6zs8/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/PDQZfxse
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?qwer
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?tyui
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?opas
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?dfgh
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?jklz
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?xcvb
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?bnmq
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?wert
https://www.artstation.com/cuevana-del-reves-2-pelicula-online-4k/profile?yuio
https://paiza.io/projects/NPhpJpCuSknsNUeFtO5DyQ
https://jsbin.com/macobohuba/edit?html,output
https://hackmd.io/l74Xyl8qSVat-eJTl65gUg
https://glot.io/snippets/gwwdwvkd0l
https://jsfiddle.net/Dahliacute/9ftsxv3p/1/
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/4a5468e6
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/c9ef9e40
https://pastelink.net/so4gu1m1
https://binshare.net/nrYHlwlqEOqSQR0NBydp
https://matters.town/a/fay4w2p4ylcs
https://friendpaste.com/1DetxPfNduao8iq2fO9tco
https://snippet.host/yzzqys
https://yamcode.com/untitled-93027
https://tempaste.com/OEiAXIxbEZz
https://demo.hedgedoc.org/s/UnLxnjP1Z
https://telegra.ph/ck95pals-uffuncu2-06-07
https://rentry.co/ndkk98ay_1r60yxz9_h6t
https://paste.ee/
https://pastelink.net/taawpbcx
https://telegra.ph/hzj98g4h-911auojq-06-07
https://rentry.co/0kd5n7eg_vqc5fm5t_39e
https://paste.ee/p/UBucd
https://paiza.io/projects/ugKP4URUoAikb0MZ2UvHbQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/tuvarunozu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/5vhdyaeg/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/042xKzY1
https://anotepad.com/notes/knh42kpx
https://paste.mozilla.org/UhfVTNSF
https://pastelink.net/5cxo43iq
https://pastebin.com/TPVxEvvV
https://telegra.ph/x3ewjn0p-4nvk7zr9-06-07
https://rentry.co/xtptntc3_y7bopea9_09l
https://paste.ee/p/1tFY9
https://paiza.io/projects/Z6L7EE7KdqTtI_2CLQNezA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/cejazebojo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/L6jxyu3g/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/df76aYS4
https://anotepad.com/notes/bpgdbpmy
https://pastelink.net/ob4lqark
https://pastebin.com/tQPVJqLe
https://telegra.ph/qgkoq42w-u8641f0u-06-07
https://rentry.co/92nfao23_l74qccof_q9q
https://paste.ee/p/FQK6v
https://paiza.io/projects/RfOEgJ9hPHUZRikcdmuspw?language=php
https://paste.laravel.io/a67d8602-bbbb-4eec-a60a-2cc8d49a36e3
https://jsbin.com/kihogizero/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/ctf5xmh7/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/AJzon8b8
https://anotepad.com/notes/seceeaq3
https://paste.mozilla.org/RCidc5aP
https://pastelink.net/al808lpc
https://telegra.ph/yl4noenu-alyu5txc-06-07
https://rentry.co/zdg1qxdl_0w85ibb1_g7r
https://paste.ee/p/i6z4M
https://paiza.io/projects/dGdsnu54l8b3uUp6hQyq9A?language=php
https://jsbin.com/puxugobela/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/hkdf1e7y/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/90iiAdlC
https://anotepad.com/notes/gkg8wrkg
https://paste.mozilla.org/L78HjngL
https://pastelink.net/3dsy28vj
https://pastebin.com/44ZsFz3m
https://telegra.ph/zuwsi3yg-5m5gdt7n-06-07
https://rentry.co/8yzfkyyh_tc7f48r9_ix3
https://paste.ee/p/w3YRM
https://paiza.io/projects/RGFlrHQaYRq3-4YdWNYCXg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/meremovexo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/q5twu89b/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/dkV8GPNp
https://anotepad.com/notes/i6347ib3
https://pastelink.net/fz0qyd1t
https://pastebin.com/TivTqcYd