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!
16997 comments
https://telegra.ph/q12qzraa-b14zag3l-06-18
https://rentry.co/eet1cqty_i1nw02xr_uz4
https://paste.ee/p/wK3Xh
https://paiza.io/projects/ATb8AKBALCHwyULsQbAwMA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/qimawareme/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/o2xer0hn/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/40rPvDcL
https://anotepad.com/notes/hh6bpx4c
https://pastelink.net/rg0whv9c
https://pastebin.com/0Qh9Gper
https://www.artstation.com/jurassic-world-dominion-2022-full-movie-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/elemental-2023-fullmovie-download-free-720p-1080p-hd/profile
https://www.artstation.com/sons-of-anarchy-2008-fullmovie-download-free-720p-1080p-hd/profile
https://telegra.ph/rzw4su5t-3l2movnv-06-18
https://rentry.co/r5hldk0m_gyt3khgj_byk
https://paste.ee/p/KWkSJ
https://paiza.io/projects/ixeUSya_M69u0rHw8RH1_A?language=php
https://jsbin.com/yomezodazi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/w0h71xj6/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/KBdu1IB1
https://pastelink.net/f9o4eyqa
https://telegra.ph/iwtdxnx0-bttmsq16-06-18
https://rentry.co/rjh8etl8_dp09ap8f_pnd
https://paste.ee/p/i6SDU
https://paiza.io/projects/rx7Wp4eiemV87KHX-YBvpQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/kiyageboze/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/g40a2Lkh/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/XraSKYrX
https://pastelink.net/0wvq4rut
https://www.artstation.com/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/criminal-minds-2005-fullmovie-download-free-720p-1080p-hd/profile
https://www.artstation.com/watch-murder-mystery-2-2023-full-movie-free/profile
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3298
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3303
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3309
https://www.artstation.com/watch-top-gun-maverick-full-movie-free-online/profile
https://www.artstation.com/american-horror-story-2011-fullmovie-download-free-720p/profile
https://telegra.ph/wo0fwc68-viqnk81m-06-18
https://rentry.co/gx5pdi2v_ftumwadu_fd4
https://paste.ee/p/ILnEs
https://paiza.io/projects/9JOPiQYV-5_4PKLIcOqd7w?language=php
https://jsbin.com/biqelefafo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/fm3shueb/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/OJx6LdA2
https://anotepad.com/notes/rs9tsbqe
https://paste.mozilla.org/O5ZDeG5U
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983963/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983973/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983974/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983978/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983915/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983911/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983916/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983914/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983937/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983933/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983963/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983973/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983978/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983915/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983911/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983916/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983914/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983937/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547983933/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982176/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982176/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982178/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982110/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982117/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982113/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982130/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982136/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982134/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547982139/
https://www.taptap.io/post/7599646
https://www.taptap.io/post/7599702
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981599/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981580/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981581/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981583/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981582/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981588/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981701/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547981706/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805551/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805554/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805571/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805576/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805733/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805762/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805721/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805728/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805305/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805357/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805308/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805352/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805604/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805609/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805651/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805659/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805270/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805277/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805273/
https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547805279/
https://telegra.ph/plrexb4y-pgqtv4pk-06-18
https://rentry.co/jlpsewlb_0189q4vd_gq6
https://paste.ee/p/Pjis9
https://paste.laravel.io/6545f818-dbdb-4d7b-94c5-a0763d830c18
https://jsbin.com/nofoxuvize/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/gfms94ow/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/9BslCj6D
https://paste.mozilla.org/iKHAnynw
https://pastelink.net/fb7x43bu
https://telegra.ph/o4lmpe9u-szw03arc-06-18
https://rentry.co/7dqhans3_a8sbdnum_c15
https://paste.ee/p/yJN6y
https://paiza.io/projects/wJDUUmDZBg0p7-1xdvLTaQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/noyawaqidu/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/2pfsghk5/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/gQ8LCd5U
https://anotepad.com/notes/nt5q3dbb
https://paste.mozilla.org/Gkuxd4JK
https://pastelink.net/i9kkiixl
https://www.artstation.com/kaiju-no-8-2024-fullmovie-download-free-720p-1080p-hd/profile
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3229
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3229?derfyt
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3229?Serytd
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3229?deruyt
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3229?dftuj
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3231
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3231?rt6u87
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3231?EDR$y7
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3231?gytuiyho
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3231?FTikyu
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547982598/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547982583/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547982111/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547982114/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547982440/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547982447/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984024/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984028/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984147/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984141/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984263/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984266/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984471/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984476/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984974/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984910/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984827/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547984826/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547989051/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547989004/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547989027/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547989026/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547989572/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547989574/
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3234
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3234?yes
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3234?wth
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3234?nfh
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3234?ayz
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3235?
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3235?tsh
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3235?gdr
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3235?rty
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3235?twi
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3236
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3236?mre
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3236?osw
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3236?lsh
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3236?xth
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3237
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3237?iwh
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3237?psh
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3237?lwb
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3237?pdn
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3242
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3243
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3245
https://github.com/TheRealJoelmatic/RemoveAdblockThing/issues/3246
https://telegra.ph/0eh1nqs3-o9bk7gb6-06-18
https://rentry.co/bs4t2tk6_60z9g2u7_65c
https://paste.ee/p/aERAc
https://paste.laravel.io/b83dfc10-1b09-4e6c-b470-8120ce9e871e
https://jsbin.com/sanumugiga/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/7yxoa59q/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/tMwlBIt9
https://paste.mozilla.org/0mbnCdHt
https://pastelink.net/x2rvra00
https://rentry.co/55ddhqo8_9vymdwlp_d5t
https://paste.ee/p/Kcv7F
https://paste.laravel.io/ba650038-a326-4cf9-85cc-345f0fe834c1
https://jsbin.com/saviduwipo/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/5jebp87g/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/XgvV7oOt
https://paste.mozilla.org/hvd4kNEr
https://pastelink.net/4jr0oddb
https://telegra.ph/n4ojg25g-bc39vqiq-06-18
https://rentry.co/e2ttk7m5_mgobbz74_2i3
https://paste.ee/p/xwynq
https://paiza.io/projects/dP8shuiLXbPBxsX2hZP4oA?language=php
https://jsbin.com/fuzowudori/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/bfsatp8g/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/6MBI8KQg
https://anotepad.com/notes/y8my6p9t
https://paste.mozilla.org/Mv61vMu2
https://pastelink.net/45gbiv40
https://telegra.ph/qzu2ay77-rd67oju2-06-18
https://rentry.co/a0e9rray_p8npmb9s_0s7
https://paste.ee/p/dZHjI
https://paiza.io/projects/9k-BvxB27f90WaGqaYFgyQ?language=php
https://jsbin.com/voburegewi/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/t4bp1vo5/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/Tv06rH9f
https://anotepad.com/notes/2k344tsg
https://paste.mozilla.org/H0hFBS8v
https://pastelink.net/jcykj1lu
https://telegra.ph/tw86lfw2-2um3cb1o-06-18
https://rentry.co/x8tfg07d_pwnr5scq_a5m
https://paste.ee/p/kVmrw
https://paste.laravel.io/971afaaa-862f-4f28-b64a-42a058d36aea
https://jsbin.com/qeqazoweda/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/0ksband8/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/qP4ZBVnt
https://paste.mozilla.org/6mUzuChh
https://pastelink.net/xeqtksgi
https://pastebin.com/H4k6a659
https://telegra.ph/ems5agye-dr4ovqeq-06-18
https://rentry.co/n5kma9fh_4r151gmw_z5d
https://paste.ee/p/XxrDH
https://paste.laravel.io/a3a55c59-16d1-4909-9f28-7f9cd91d93cf
https://jsbin.com/canaqamuve/1/edit?html,output
https://jsfiddle.net/0vj5xwt1/
https://www.toptal.com/developers/paste-gd/v0JHxfHg
https://paste.mozilla.org/CDb8wAde
https://pastelink.net/fex583lm
https://pastebin.com/nMhpBapN
https://www.artstation.com/miraculous-world-paris-tales-of-shadybug-and-claw-noir/profile