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!

14359 comments

https://www.artstation.com/watch-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-2021-full/profile

dawcabqq.5 June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/anesthesia-2016-fullmovie-download-free-online-watch-hd/profile

jujupjdy.10 June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/AlADlN
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/39AD9A
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/ob4mJO
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lDJ5GG
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/PXdY6y
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?ffr
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?tht
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?hfn
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?gng
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?ryt
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?thn
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?fht
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?eun
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?dtg
https://www.artstation.com/insideout21/profile?gfh

Guarda Shark June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/watch-beauty-and-the-beast-full-movie-online-free/profile

qomaxboc.10 June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/avatar-full-movie-online-free/profile

maxprwbi.4 June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/women-talking-2022-fullmovie-download-free-online-hd/profile

qayysrcu.5 June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/little-chief-2020-fullmovie-download-free-online-watch-hd/profile

zppdowoj.7 June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/allesstehtkopf22/profile
https://www.artstation.com/allesstehtkopf22/profile?yfytry
https://www.artstation.com/allesstehtkopf22/profile?yrty6
https://www.artstation.com/allesstehtkopf22/profile?yty546
https://www.artstation.com/allesstehtkopf22/profile?ghgf67

vhkxfkxf June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/y7kk4u60-e0aq5ga1-06-21
https://rentry.co/qj0h1d2u_xbqniga6_bxl
https://paste.ee/p/yleFp
https://paiza.io/projects/asglvrNfk8ahZfRsP9krQA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/zevayepozo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/px8c0n4d/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/nk43bg7d
https://paste.mozilla.org/MpXu7cHy
https://pastelink.net/zlkoev6h

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/0kxcnjjr-lprp9u3b-06-21
https://rentry.co/w9muw0od_kaj19hxp_fs8
https://paste.ee/p/qy1DO
https://paiza.io/projects/H9ArUlWbdEQF92JBPGgpSg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/sijukureqo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/mevycn4j/
https://anotepad.com/notes/c9rkqk4x
https://pastelink.net/x4ax7xe3
https://pastebin.com/L9CXuqj4

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/4k436fyf-8v0eegd5-06-21
https://rentry.co/wb4df8mn_muunco2e_mfb
https://paste.ee/p/m7Bpg
https://paiza.io/projects/nsM1AZVCGKlLznLsiSnqKQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/qiyuqudufi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/tcp3ds7q/
https://anotepad.com/notes/j4qc736h
https://pastelink.net/8vk04np5
https://pastebin.com/7z5CGs1J

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/watch-the-iron-claw-fullmovie-2023-free-online-sub-english-hd/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-fullmov/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-practical-magic-fullmovie-1998-free-online-sub-english-hd/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-nocturnal-animals-fullmovie-2016-free-online-sub-english/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-top-gun-maverick-fullmovie-2022-free-online-sub-english/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-the-boys-in-the-boat-fullmovie-2023-free-online-english/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-wild-eyed-and-wicked-fullmovie-2023-free-online-english/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-the-shawshank-redemption-fullmovie-1994-free-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-dogma-fullmovie-1999-free-online-sub-english-hd/profile
https://www.scoop.it/topic/pelisplus-ver-bad-boys-ride-or-die-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-by-klaus-kinski
https://www.scoop.it/topic/pelisplus-ver-furiosa-de-la-saga-mad-max-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-by-klaus-kinski
https://www.scoop.it/topic/pelisplus-ver-en-las-profundidades-del-sena-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-by-klaus-kinski
https://www.scoop.it/topic/pelisplus-ver-el-especialista-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-by-klaus-kinski
https://www.scoop.it/topic/pelisplus-ver-godzilla-minus-one-2023-online-en-espanol-y-latino-by-klaus-kinski
https://telegra.ph/akozbhdfvgqwhua-06-21
https://paste.ee/p/YmZjM
https://paiza.io/projects/lCDnyWSqkf3JBWs2bIxAlw
https://jsbin.com/bofutoviyo/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/5uhLtdba/
https://paste.gd/pnDa1O6s
https://glot.io/snippets/gxbgfnylym
https://rextester.com/ACHY34405
https://bitbin.it/Io24nXiy/
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/adba4c1b
https://justpaste.it/db7ej
https://binshare.net/fj9pV1UqV8nNUOOJmsb8
http://nopaste.paefchen.net/10222961
https://yamcode.com/joaskzmksdbh
https://pastelink.net/qwxqff3h
https://pastebin.com/RvXerNn7
https://tempaste.com/RgBbnFTNFCl
https://paste.myst.rs/j0t31sz1
https://www.wowace.com/paste/f22c9c69
https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/24adafab
https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/96a16042
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/165133b6
https://paste.enginehub.org/NTll4Zbkx
https://notes.io/wzWHX
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/613c73e7
https://paste.ofcode.org/NFbLc4RS68gFHASJmUQbD5
https://snippet.host/uowwzt
https://etextpad.com/r1tfv76ecf
https://wokwi.com/projects/401285459315534849
https://jsitor.com/BVAKH6PvT
https://dotnetfiddle.net/dEuWvv

namamelati_ June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/8u36ck1n-41ce7mea-06-21
https://rentry.co/vggb4ye8_s6qfq1hr_187
https://paste.ee/p/DoyFA
https://paiza.io/projects/Ef_QnDRW1le7wtKtxuAQ3g?language=php
https://jsbin.com/bepacanico/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/9ote6yaj/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/km8midhr
https://paste.mozilla.org/1amkbf1C
https://pastelink.net/j4ucf0o7

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/35vjeukc-c1jtg3sl-06-21
https://rentry.co/22f0lg2j_ljruy3tq_b2p
https://paste.ee/p/uGQM8
https://paiza.io/projects/cuKNQHstllUWTU8Kjn2wfQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/vekiwiqesa/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/93rw8syt/
https://anotepad.com/notes/es3jb576
https://pastelink.net/1iwm1wwn
https://pastebin.com/KX2sp1L3

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/77a4riie-boegv13q-06-21
https://rentry.co/oywue6e1_4umpir67_7ab
https://paste.ee/p/AtMAw
https://paiza.io/projects/GESP8exT574pFikdO3MTPw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/fijenetihi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/7tsdc1pk/
https://anotepad.com/notes/akd9m8en
https://pastelink.net/mfyelk9h
https://pastebin.com/4FgDz6xP

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/wv9ldpqp-8ivpx3bm-06-21
https://rentry.co/ozxbc4sl_4br9r2yy_eww
https://paste.ee/p/8imwy
https://paiza.io/projects/qytYhMtbiy-kJtDzIWNYMA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/yoxutabupo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/osd21u48/
https://anotepad.com/notes/77pqe6m6
https://pastelink.net/z13ucou6
https://pastebin.com/td4mGKnC

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/alles-steht-kopf-2/profile
https://www.artstation.com/alles-steht-kopf-2/profile?gfdg
https://www.artstation.com/alles-steht-kopf-2/profile?gxfg
https://www.artstation.com/alles-steht-kopf-2/profile?gdt4
https://www.artstation.com/alles-steht-kopf-2/profile?hdy3

bhkcgcgy June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/u0mmzylx-r7avt2op-06-21
https://rentry.co/9tz68d43_1scudmp8_g6o
https://paste.ee/p/uD9ug
https://paiza.io/projects/JuT9WIFRUrR_ErEpyuy_BA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/zevihaguxu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/ek45mrg7/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/k2q9wagj
https://paste.mozilla.org/kHU6nQc0
https://pastelink.net/9rir7hpc
https://pastebin.com/p3ufcttb

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?dryh
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?tfufrtyh
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?Fgjkh
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?ghikuhj
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?dfgjugyh
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?Fgjugy
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?GHkij
https://www.artstation.com/inside_out_2_teljesfilm_magyarul1/profile?FTgjikjhul
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?ud
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?gs
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?eg
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?ug
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?rf
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?jh
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?wf
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?yh
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?fg
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?uk
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?tr
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?yu
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?wg
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?ti
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?wq
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?uj
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?td
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?nl
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ny1YVq?me
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?ed
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?yu
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?uo
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?4w
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?hs
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?hh
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?db
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?jf
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?ey
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?wd
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?yr
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?hu
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?wf
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?kl
https://www.artstation.com/w-glowie-sie-nie-miesci-2-2024/profile?wq

Guarda Shark June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/aj6a6qxz-5p9hshbs-06-21
https://rentry.co/9sdazife_cm47reqh_iix
https://paste.ee/p/jgCmu
https://paiza.io/projects/rRr-v7-o-Dvn5OCpz51Tyg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/batefusonu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/L941x8st/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/xtqbtre4
https://paste.mozilla.org/m1xtoLNO
https://pastelink.net/vvb0vvyb
https://pastebin.com/xEJiCah8

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://www.artstation.com/film-voir-vice-versa-2-streaming-vf-gratuit-en-complet/profile
https://www.artstation.com/voir-vice-versa-2-streaming-vf-complet-et-vostvf/profile
https://www.artstation.com/films-vice-versa-2-film-complet-film-vostfr-vf/profile
https://www.artstation.com/films-voir-le-comte-de-monte-cristo-streaming-vf-en-complet/profile
https://www.artstation.com/le-comte-de-monte-cristo-streaming-vf-vostfr-complet/profile
https://www.artstation.com/voir-le-comte-de-monte-cristo-streaming-vf-en-fr-vostfr/profile
https://www.artstation.com/le-comte-de-monte-cristo-film-complet-film-vostfr-vf-artstation/profile
https://www.artstation.com/le-comte-de-monte-cristo-streaming-complet-vostfr-en-vf/profile
https://www.artstation.com/films-le-comte-de-monte-cristo-vf-complet-film-vostfr/profile
https://www.artstation.com/le-comte-de-monte-cristo-2024-streaming-vf-fr-complet/profile
https://www.artstation.com/voir-vice-versa-2-streaming-vf-en-fr-vostfr/profile
https://www.artstation.com/le-films-vice-versa-2-vf-complet-film-vostfr/profile
https://www.artstation.com/film-voir-la-famille-hennedricks-streaming-vf-2024-en-complet/profile
https://www.artstation.com/le-films-la-famille-hennedricks-vf-complet-film-vostfr/profile
https://www.artstation.com/voir-la-famille-hennedricks-streaming-vf-en-fr-vostfr/profile
https://www.are.na/block/28904026
https://www.are.na/ritope-luravel/voir-films-la-famille-hennedricks-en-streamingvf-en-francais
https://www.are.na/block/28904036
https://www.are.na/jimacel-lisoren/voir-le-film-la-famille-hennedricks-en-streaming-vf-en-francais-vostfr
https://www.artstation.com/films-voir-la-famille-hennedricks-streamingvf-gratuit-en-ligne/profile
https://www.artstation.com/voir-kinds-of-kindness-2024-en-streaming-vf-en-france/profile
https://www.artstation.com/kinds-of-kindness-film-complet-film-vostfr-vf-myartstation/profile
https://www.artstation.com/film-voir-kinds-of-kindness-streaming-vf-2024-en-complet/profile
https://www.are.na/block/28904149
https://www.are.na/block/28904155
https://www.are.na/faxoyim-exenel/voir-films-kinds-of-kindness-en-streamingvf-en-francais
https://www.artstation.com/voir-lenfant-qui-mesurait-le-monde-streaming-vf-2024-en-complet/profile
https://www.artstation.com/lenfant-qui-mesurait-le-monde-film-complet-film-vostfr-vf/profile
https://www.are.na/block/28904301
https://www.are.na/kiyiwik-lisore/voir-l-enfant-qui-mesurait-le-monde-streaming-vf-en-fr-vostfr
https://www.are.na/block/28904328
https://www.are.na/yowoned-luravell/voir-le-film-l-enfant-qui-mesurait-le-monde-en-streaming-vf-en-francais-vostfr
https://www.are.na/block/28904368
https://www.are.na/lajit-ravel/voir-films-vice-versa-2-en-streaming-vf-en-francais-vostfr

facasiexeneli June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/83duuuwf-l3wr3aps-06-21
https://rentry.co/013nxv2g_tf9kjnf5_2td
https://paste.ee/p/hRS6H
https://paiza.io/projects/tmjSrv8OnyCrGIC8Ch1h4A?language=php
https://jsbin.com/bonuribibu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/vno4rcyz/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/degxcjye
https://paste.mozilla.org/0m5NzAJj
https://pastelink.net/zr0cuow0

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/gp74t77f-jyz9f2yu-06-21
https://rentry.co/suy7qewh_l27sdn5m_ef2
https://paste.ee/p/kJRZ1
https://paiza.io/projects/KU00LhzL48TT4XOt2yLosQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/walabiduvi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/L2hfyjnd/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/xrxiscmq
https://paste.mozilla.org/7vkvSA5d
https://pastelink.net/353l52bv

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/v5qcw59w-d68d0hfv-06-21
https://rentry.co/mdwuyz8g_1d9q7vq5_8by
https://paste.ee/p/B30RJ
https://paiza.io/projects/pZTqwXITDUP547G97BdYYw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/kujogekepa/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/u6k7xvzn/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/agbn4yfx
https://paste.mozilla.org/UJqkx5eE
https://pastelink.net/ebfwlqmn
https://pastebin.com/asQydxwV

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

https://telegra.ph/a4c3al8u-r2cmz790-06-21
https://rentry.co/hibyqxrn_xxzxo5ht_ujg
https://paste.ee/p/igqsm
https://paiza.io/projects/r5R6SyN1pZVlZ5VFl7rfAQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/noxomegodo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/t8hbzxu5/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd
https://anotepad.com/notes/xhnm28g2
https://paste.mozilla.org/6T0s9o1c
https://pastelink.net/r0nuu1su

maya aprianaya June 21, 2024

Leave a comment

Your comment has been published.

Shop now

You can use this element to add a quote, content...