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!
17237 comments
https://pastelink.net/0fm7gi21
https://pastelink.net/2q99d3el
https://pastelink.net/keflnvu2
https://pastelink.net/c67xvis3
https://pastelink.net/ujb422gu
https://pastelink.net/nn01w17r
https://pastelink.net/yw4jspzm
https://pastelink.net/n0t7glcq
https://pastelink.net/n0t7glcq
https://pastelink.net/9pq3fi4q
https://pastelink.net/0d7vh974
https://pastelink.net/9eroxebi
https://pastelink.net/bjy52rgo
https://pastelink.net/66du8ak6
https://pastelink.net/3en2k4y6
https://pastelink.net/52svugig
https://pastelink.net/15t4m5ui
https://pastelink.net/pg1tu519
https://pastelink.net/kkaq3qov
https://pastelink.net/tlqx0bt7
https://pastelink.net/i7bccclw
https://pastelink.net/0pmmj6r6
https://pastelink.net/wptz8gq0
https://pastelink.net/8vcucrhk
https://pastelink.net/1pnk9avn
https://pastelink.net/0bc6e4cu
https://pastelink.net/2537s73n
https://pastelink.net/44eaq4q3
https://pastelink.net/tpeiucvi
https://pastelink.net/wqmgo5u6
https://pastelink.net/d0hrf3uf
https://pastelink.net/ndjwhjyw
https://pastelink.net/f1vbea5n
https://pastelink.net/70f40qk9
https://pastelink.net/wiry1ouz
https://pastelink.net/kxoj0idv
https://pastelink.net/csunuohm
https://pastelink.net/dhydoldl
https://pastelink.net/fegxsfsh
https://pastelink.net/ijprnnq2
https://pastelink.net/1sucfhxx
https://pastelink.net/h9qxb53w
https://pastelink.net/prxaw8xt
https://pastelink.net/kt3dfktz
https://pastelink.net/lvf60ozb
https://pastelink.net/6kyjfqit
https://pastelink.net/53jq2w6p
https://pastelink.net/iuqw15mk
https://pastelink.net/7vc3cv91
https://pastelink.net/e2gp8mlk
https://pastelink.net/vf0i2tdl
https://pastelink.net/808hv003
https://pastelink.net/eye2t6x4
https://pastelink.net/onm6agm6
https://pastelink.net/2boutd0r
https://pastelink.net/eeb73a6b
https://pastelink.net/osys9hzn
https://pastelink.net/qxadwp9l
https://pastelink.net/ja5tq4mb
https://pastelink.net/e5jhvphp
https://pastelink.net/1yff6yir
https://pastelink.net/8g7owfu6
https://pastelink.net/9yu2h0pt
https://pastelink.net/xqf5nnru
https://pastelink.net/f5ya5cnn
https://pastelink.net/lbljgik8
https://pastelink.net/vwe89d12
https://pastelink.net/3bu1s2jx
https://pastelink.net/3n9q8uhp
https://pastelink.net/lns8eoq6
https://pastelink.net/h7hy2ynn
https://pastelink.net/5dwh540v
https://pastelink.net/x9pw1es4
https://pastelink.net/962iak4w
https://pastelink.net/4601101f
https://pastelink.net/sxi0ck9x
https://pastelink.net/1rh6nixm
https://pastelink.net/u2wt5sep
https://pastelink.net/yghjkdkh
https://pastelink.net/ndurdkgj
https://pastelink.net/uy4xrvuw
https://pastelink.net/752v6qbq
https://pastelink.net/t7g1rbho
https://pastelink.net/rtnzi832
https://pastelink.net/kgj9au77
https://pastelink.net/3vjx8wt3
https://pastelink.net/n77dgij6
https://pastelink.net/n2ogx9xb
https://pastelink.net/94feiymh
https://pastelink.net/6vmphlmq
https://pastelink.net/du3s7ec5
https://pastelink.net/5dhurg9j
https://pastelink.net/8scbk3k8
https://pastelink.net/pqgx881a
https://pastelink.net/mbhtqcij
https://pastelink.net/fp2km8jy
https://pastelink.net/pjnca8m8
https://pastelink.net/vmfuhwhm
https://pastelink.net/mhzxydqg
https://pastelink.net/g07flb2t
https://pastelink.net/m0zbo7xg
https://pastelink.net/i7izjrrj
https://pastelink.net/nsh8ygty
https://pastelink.net/xtkvp63e
https://pastelink.net/yq7gcb90
https://pastelink.net/bubuod6v
https://pastelink.net/45q3h8yq
https://pastelink.net/z0bzk5gm
https://pastelink.net/t3cbbqjl
https://pastelink.net/p8tr8zfq
https://pastelink.net/dq5cmpoh
https://pastelink.net/erjjpkqv
https://pastelink.net/cetcwqhc
https://pastelink.net/v66nf8v4
https://pastelink.net/xg5rgr3c
https://pastelink.net/jtam1ufh
https://pastelink.net/nkcg8ym4
https://pastelink.net/lwbh6b3h
https://pastelink.net/5q5rhxxp
https://pastelink.net/wdmupeik
https://pastelink.net/slogshdl
https://pastelink.net/4aqasdtw
https://pastelink.net/c7269ir6
https://pastelink.net/5tafaebs
https://pastelink.net/r66fc05n
https://pastelink.net/88a5gabu
https://pastelink.net/njs1kng3
https://pastelink.net/efsuth8s
https://pastelink.net/1dnj1k5k
https://pastelink.net/nydf3pcu
https://pastelink.net/d7g7xyp7
https://pastelink.net/zq32zndm
https://pastelink.net/oc3ekbww
https://pastelink.net/c5rrz9bq
https://pastelink.net/y27g6rae
https://pastelink.net/qhubsp2t
https://pastelink.net/k5fnvssc
https://pastelink.net/y3z5fie3
https://pastelink.net/7n255seu
https://pastelink.net/sc0ojm1h
https://pastelink.net/4re1j426
https://pastelink.net/66ybertd
https://pastelink.net/nlfjgoou
https://pastelink.net/n3i7snyh
https://pastelink.net/qgriicug
https://pastelink.net/fmceg04z
https://pastelink.net/a744l7sy
https://pastelink.net/0fqvmdtj
https://pastelink.net/9wu19wql
https://pastelink.net/tx62y2dx
https://pastelink.net/ejk214lg
https://pastelink.net/q3e6wsw9
https://pastelink.net/ty1z2pk7
https://pastelink.net/r9vsm2b5
https://pastelink.net/ezkyws0l
https://pastelink.net/psxygwhd
https://pastelink.net/9sukjm2y
https://pastelink.net/7ooiye96
https://pastelink.net/pj4smfzs
https://pastelink.net/fvqa495p
https://pastelink.net/4hcdwfhq
https://pastelink.net/dbgj9one
https://pastelink.net/fz8c5xdi
https://pastelink.net/2077j042
https://pastelink.net/w548f9eg
https://pastelink.net/r4x00w08
https://pastelink.net/2q99d3el??
https://pastelink.net/bjy52rgo??
https://pastelink.net/1yff6yir??
https://pastelink.net/xqf5nnru??
https://pastelink.net/c67xvis3??
https://pastelink.net/keflnvu2??
https://pastelink.net/f5ya5cnn??
https://pastelink.net/8g7owfu6??
https://pastelink.net/kt3dfktz??
https://pastelink.net/wptz8gq0??
https://pastelink.net/x9pw1es4??
https://pastelink.net/1sucfhxx??
https://pastelink.net/h9qxb53w??
https://pastelink.net/9yu2h0pt??
https://pastebin.com/7V3xMDLt
https://yamcode.com/uefdskjdksdhzkfukeds-djfhbcdksuyhsyh-zdsfhbdsdshf
https://rentry.co/czxuwmxq
https://pastelink.net/c5a46jre
https://notes.io/wdis8
https://hastebin.com/share/abajaxafad.bash
https://paiza.io/projects/WSCrub_VSAUYcyMvo7cxlA
https://textbin.net/gwc3hxu4ao
https://bitbin.it/8dmi4X2e/
https://pasteio.com/xzO8sgeE7Jbv
https://paste.jp/b4491ce6/
https://paste.ee/p/D6Kq1
https://paste.myconan.net/494161
https://paste.vpsfree.cz/Zgy4PDxc#
https://www.pastery.net/tfybtd/
https://paste2.org/8hY4OXKG
https://glot.io/snippets/gutq4f59xt
https://ctxt.io/2/AABIlasAFg
https://paste.rs/SaWK0.txt
https://paste.toolforge.org/view/2df0e0ee
https://etextpad.com/jomitqljep
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/17b8167e
https://hackmd.io/s/SJlcpID1C
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/d5b2725c
https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_serugfruhdskg-sdfhzsduklhtfr-djksjzfsdjlukls-sdjfjhbughsadj,65680707.html
https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_ersugfdkush-sjfdkusfusdhyh-dfdukshbzxfuklyrfilusdhfui,65680709.html
https://telegra.ph/0b9y48jy-kqa0ivtk-03-31
https://rentry.co/w7e6v34o_bmb2dou9_czd
https://paste.ee/p/CcY0R
https://paiza.io/projects/M-V-sS2gyycjxjxIv5fB5A?language=php
https://jsbin.com/mufokihera/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/vubmcykL/
https://pastelink.net/hvtarwkm
https://pastebin.com/w9fMPWu4
https://telegra.ph/soesa2l1-4kosrmm7-03-31
https://rentry.co/lr6ks0v5_vidgk8jv_b6n
https://paste.ee/p/G2kzu
https://paiza.io/projects/2M9ZyRFesXI2OqlbvvYU2w?language=php
https://jsbin.com/karuziqide/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/hw5mrjbo/
https://pastelink.net/o734ye0y
https://pastebin.com/ddNrEc4W
https://telegra.ph/t1e0bj4q-cm3b32ht-03-31
https://rentry.co/6yh9p6lc_c0qykjsg_0w8
https://paste.ee/p/Laiec
https://paiza.io/projects/rNnvjBRHJ8e-ubSUedAFiA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/najoxecuho/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/rf6tcobg/
https://pastelink.net/hm53kcei
https://pastebin.com/7HwaEDSM
https://telegra.ph/xs3gae5u-g88vlg56-03-31
https://rentry.co/a7pyrszx_dlan78kv_1tw
https://paste.ee/p/8WPw0
https://paiza.io/projects/KT0iH7I4U7IxDKpaXdNLfw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/juyidojiku/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/oyrb9xne/
https://pastelink.net/m1knzvhu
https://pastebin.com/LcyK6jTi
https://telegra.ph/035utf64-z2lsj8nf-03-31
https://rentry.co/6w5u3r0k_idheyfwv_a5s
https://paste.ee/p/ye0S5
https://paiza.io/projects/PikuavFa4MJJtnDgCtB3YA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/mupadotome/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/7vLwdxzg/
https://pastelink.net/p3ubmrdn
https://pastebin.com/GVDNuLzw
https://telegra.ph/e9l9vj62-bnn08zi5-03-31
https://rentry.co/vvsate2d_qh5f8c83_f6x
https://paste.ee/p/LASgy
https://paiza.io/projects/hz4AfD_qmtZ9f9aS9GU1bA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/zulilediki/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/pykbrqe3/
https://pastelink.net/y78j5nd0
https://pastebin.com/zyudW0zB
https://telegra.ph/x47l6vqs-ag5qf4bo-03-31
https://rentry.co/wf0pqxxg_i0uqvyzk_6i3
https://paste.ee/p/hcC6I
https://paiza.io/projects/gaDw34jQXRq1kqsMcDR2QA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/limaletude/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/bn3wdj2f/
https://pastelink.net/zximeh8m
https://pastebin.com/xDKKSaPx
https://telegra.ph/rc25bbky-medngd1s-03-31
https://rentry.co/yr92fmrg_9n68c4mi_ij8
https://paste.ee/p/kYhj8
https://paiza.io/projects/CMdlQ5g2rWfaq6vdRKF2OQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/tudorivuqi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/t8pnaj37/
https://pastelink.net/r92w8aya
https://pastebin.com/fhePcqL4
https://telegra.ph/5hsynvz1-4xrnel3u-03-31
https://rentry.co/qx4cewtu_4mhd2mh4_iva
https://paste.ee/p/KUTRB
https://paiza.io/projects/xU_o3rcn-RWgy-TUeWPCvQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/satonozipo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/mjbrsdha/
https://pastelink.net/y8gq5khj
https://pastebin.com/teF6u4Bf
https://telegra.ph/eqz4divw-47pww43c-03-31
https://rentry.co/6itwj5cp_4g22hn7k_koc
https://paste.ee/p/r3jKh
https://paiza.io/projects/NxmcIEC4G7Ms8J57Ok4Qlw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/wulisizeyu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/1vduna2b/
https://pastelink.net/ylcgjdvu
https://pastebin.com/rXR1sjxK
https://telegra.ph/zijqiez1-kj7jxmvx-03-31
https://rentry.co/mjkhz542_pd0z3kjy_n1o
https://paste.ee/p/J9wpk
https://paiza.io/projects/WWMcGa7C7SKDRAsJe8nUrg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/japileqafu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/r7mb8tjn/
https://pastelink.net/jm64h2es
https://pastebin.com/vufSBAwQ
https://telegra.ph/qxbi5t1b-oxb6om9m-03-31
https://rentry.co/l5dj8r1f_025yjrua_fla
https://paste.ee/p/LCf9M
https://paiza.io/projects/Ol_62EWVAHRZ-a62_Pn_Uw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/ziwapozolo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/5o4jeqgt/
https://pastelink.net/cvfnq2ow
https://pastebin.com/X74SB9uV
https://telegra.ph/bvh6xrlf-iwy7rtvn-03-31
https://rentry.co/o6jiosr2_s0p7fvyh_en4
https://paste.ee/p/gNxKE
https://paiza.io/projects/rnCwkwmJRmu-5×75m1Wljw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/suhodilubi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/2ox1zgaq/
https://pastelink.net/3fh792js
https://pastebin.com/fsBj0Zgs
https://telegra.ph/mp91mu4z-y99m2n11-03-31
https://rentry.co/1i13qw4t_rjqw2h9l_wkg
https://paste.ee/p/KDFtV
https://pastelink.net/npo4ijnb
https://pastebin.com/#google_vignette
https://telegra.ph/b4y3gd1b-vtkxgiy3-03-31
https://rentry.co/pfpra9s4_n4hpwxgu_p1j
https://paste.ee/p/YVwZG
https://paiza.io/projects/kcXKgZ4wwTnYOBsamVr2IQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/zadiduqeca/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/7fa6mn5b/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/LIfV0Sag
https://paste.mozilla.org/Myxre3by
https://pastelink.net/t80zy3bu
https://pastebin.com/19gDVRpv
https://telegra.ph/onq7jv4o-q7oy76jm-03-31
https://rentry.co/6o1sknb8_a86n4wo4_qpy
https://paste.ee/
https://pastelink.net/8w4npn97
https://telegra.ph/0fqtvzmk-wl9l7avf-03-30
https://rentry.co/4ow3wi7r_gx036qbz_rqz
https://paste.ee/p/BISsV
https://paiza.io/projects/HVeXowsl1VoSL2aIL_bV2A?language=php
https://jsbin.com/tibaciwuso/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/b5faej3L/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/1d8CJzVh
https://anotepad.com/notes/bjj5863n
https://paste.mozilla.org/bysWwrTm
https://pastebin.com/xrBHr81h
https://telegra.ph/vc95ai81-pv93b7vb-03-30
https://rentry.co/yu84tbhq_j7dym9w3_iwa
https://paste.ee/p/3Nvfq
https://paiza.io/projects/UF375AOApD0oUmPE3yhZPg?language=php
https://jsbin.com/tozojitoho/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/t7nazqrx/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/VtcS5Uv6
https://anotepad.com/notes/3dsmw933
https://paste.mozilla.org/rsn0v99s
https://pastebin.com/m5DWns7F
https://telegra.ph/xsm2cp9x-1sy2z4o2-03-30
https://rentry.co/xgrlvpvl_qmj5d6qx_war
https://paste.ee/p/RqsLV
https://paiza.io/projects/DeeL8VAe6oV4URs8XiVlrQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/nuvifazawu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/7rg8Ljou/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/hlQjsxBA
https://paste.mozilla.org/esEsuyu8
https://pastebin.com/exneSvRK
https://telegra.ph/q8vh29ga-vke4x6es-03-30
https://rentry.co/0bruy0it_1tckr9l8_jae
https://paste.ee/
https://jsfiddle.net/c0zose82/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/HcH4dBwS
https://anotepad.com/notes/yi87h8h7
https://paste.mozilla.org/7yKn5vKc
https://pastebin.com/nRMLCS02
https://telegra.ph/z2zc0vwu-haq3ljow-03-30
https://rentry.co/4npsgghw_u1hry71z_usr
https://paste.ee/p/HlKJo
https://paiza.io/projects/_oMwYsxckm7KKZ8R8IFILw?language=php
https://jsbin.com/falohagiqo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/8abqLg2h/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/URzVjaWh
https://anotepad.com/notes/pk88t3yd
https://paste.mozilla.org/WYz1vKn2
https://pastebin.com/HZ1WYd7A
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540011929/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540011872/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540011895/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013019/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013098/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013547/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013750/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013735/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013792/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013302/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013363/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013602/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013665/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013695/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013273/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013479/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013436/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013490/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013942/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013851/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls540013862/
https://pastebin.com/GvgaqctT
http://pastie.org/p/5cX1Utq5I9ftY6tU3psXsH
https://paste.rs/Zn26a.txt
https://jsfiddle.net/z3fswoku/
https://notes.io/wdrT1
https://telegra.ph/adzxczxc-03-30
https://www.pastery.net/mdzsjj/
https://bitbin.it/rppvMogq/
https://yamcode.com/asdzxc-456
https://rextester.com/ZZNM72545
https://hackmd.io/dinaputriramdhan/Byx8NpB1R
https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/dinaputriramdhan/diary/202403310000/
https://steemit.com/zxcaa/mejus/7kcb7h-asdzxc
https://paste.ee/p/1loLq
https://pastelink.net/vv6mponm
https://pasteio.com/xcga5SMF4A7D
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/e44003fd
http://paste.jp/42e23f4e/
https://telegra.ph/qblss7j6-dak9fk6i-03-30
https://rentry.co/op7jb9nl_gazb1z5c_q8i
https://paste.ee/
https://paste.mozilla.org/bvzvE9xx
https://pastelink.net/fpwtgrb9
https://pastebin.com/kHbBzF3K
https://telegra.ph/nwn7vrwb-e6mhbtdn-03-30
https://rentry.co/j5be1tkb_y9h6cwe9_fp0
https://paste.ee/p/M1XdA
https://paiza.io/projects/811C2zPJ25qDg_RaVvMDbQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/xulusikoca/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/j2omtvg6/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/LFsfrSAm
https://anotepad.com/notes/e5m6wbsy
https://paste.mozilla.org/OZS58iY8
https://pastelink.net/j03mnvmq
https://pastebin.com/HdLvZwxU