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ballparksofbaseball.com |
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Minute Maid Park
Houston, TX
Since its opening in
2000,
Minute Maid Park has become one of baseballs "crown jewels."
Throughout the early and mid 1990s the future of Major League
Baseball in Houston looked bleak as the team struggled to get a new
ballpark built to replace the Astrodome. By 1995 Astros owner
Drayton McLane threatened to sell the team to Bill Collins who would
have moved the club to Northern Virginia. There was also a plan that
had the Astros moving to Orlando. In November
1996, a referendum was placed on the ballot and voters finally
approved it to allow construction of a new ballpark in downtown
Houston and keeping the Astros in town. Located on a 25 acre site in
downtown Houston, construction began October 30, 1997. The ballpark
was constructed with steel and concrete, with the facade consisting
of brick and limestone. The design of the ballpark was greatly
influenced by the surround neighborhood including the 1911 vintage
Union Station that forms the ballpark's main entrance. Part of the
design for the ballpark includes a retractable roof that is
necessary to keep the summer heat out and to keep fans cool. The
retractable roof consists of three panels that can open or close in
20 minutes. For its first two years the ballpark was known as Enron
Field before the company went bankrupt. During part of the 2002
season, the ballpark was known as Astros Field before the naming
rights were sold to The Minute Maid Company purchased the naming
rights.
The Houston Astros played
their first game at Minute Maid Park on April 7, 2000 before 40,950
fans. Three levels of green seats extend from
the left field foul pole to home plate and around to the right field
foul pole. Two levels of seats are located beyond the right field
fence. A 131 foot wide scoreboard is located above these seats. Over
2,500 seats, known as the Crawford Boxes jut out into left field, making the distance to it just 315 feet
at the left field foul pole. Along with
views of downtown Houston, a 57-foot, 24-ton full-size replica of a
19th-century Wild West steam locomotive runs on an 800-foot track
located above left field. Along with the train, Minute Maid Park has
many other attractions.
Tal's Hill, a 20 degree angled hill is
located in dead centerfield, measuring 90 feet at its widest point,
and curving around 100 feet of outfield fence. A flagpole is also
here and is in play. Banners from
Astros championships are hung from the archways along the Conoco
Home Run Alley behind left and center field. Fans can buy Astros
merchandise at The Shed, the Astros' official gift shop at Union
Station. Original oil paintings, lithographs,
bronze sculptures and other unique memorabilia can be bought at the
Gallery at Minute Maid Park. Although the Astros have only been
playing at Minute Maid Park for several years, they have enjoyed
several successful seasons including their first appearance in the
World Series in 2005.

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MINUTE MAID PARK FACTS AND FIGURES |
2008 ASTROS SCHEDULE |
- Tenant:
Houston Astros
- Capacity:
40,950
- Surface:
Grass
- Cost:
$250 Million
- Opened:
April 7, 2000
- Dimensions:
315-L, 362-LC, 435-C,
373-RC, 326-R
- Architect:
HOK
- Owner:
Harris County Sports Authority
- Former Name(s):
Enron Field (2000-'01), Astros Field (2001)
- Naming
Rights: Coca Cola, $6 million/year through 2030
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MINUTE MAID
PARK
PICTURES |
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO HOUSTON AND MINUTE MAID PARK |
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MINUTE MAID PARK AND THE HOUSTON ASTROS BY THE NUMBERS |
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Total Attendance |
MLB
Rank |
Average Attendance per Game |
MLB
Rank |
Team Wins |
Average Ticket Price |
MLB
Rank |
|
2007 |
3,020,405 |
10 |
37,289 |
10 |
73 |
26.66 |
8 |
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2006 |
3,022,763 |
8 |
37,318 |
8 |
82 |
26.66 |
6 |
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2005 |
2,762,472 |
10 |
34,105 |
10 |
89 |
24.83 |
7 |
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2004 |
3,087,872 |
7 |
38,122 |
7 |
92 |
22.88 |
8 |
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2003 |
2,454,241 |
11 |
30,299 |
11 |
87 |
20.78 |
10 |
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ballparksofbaseball.com |
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