Minute Maid Park
Experiences
Ballparks
of Baseball:
Minute Maid Park
Ballpark Visited: Minute Maid Park
Submitted By: Henry Grade: B
Pros of the ballpark: The park is very nice. It's very
intimate, actually. The field is very close to the stands and you
get a view of the field at every point on the main concourse level.
Standing on the porches in left center provides a very cool view of
the field. The roof was closed, but it still felt like a baseball
field. But the view of the downtown skyline is pretty impressive, as
is the train. I liked the tributes to all the legends of the Astros,
from Craig Biggio's march to 3000 hits to displaying every one of
Jeff Bagwell's home runs. The park contains lots of places to get
food and drinks. I spent a week in Houston and I can't tell you how
great it was to stay in a 70-degree climate-controlled environment
for three hours.
Cons of the ballpark: My seats in section 225 of the
Mezzanine level were very accessible from the concourse, though I
would find out later that the view couldn't allow me to see fly
balls that went into right field. Right fielders for that day --
Luke Scott and Shawn Green of the Mets -- would disappear on balls
to the warning track and I'd have to use the crowd's reaction to
determine whether it was an out or not. Parking is a hassle, if you
can find your way to the park from the multitude of freeways Houston
has. I paid 20 bucks for a surface lot and I suspect that the closer
you get to the park, the more expensive it will be. There is no
other alternative but to drive, though. I didn't like all of the
advertising, including some weird promotion from Chick-Fil-A on the
foul poles and if someone hit a home run on the foul pole, everyone
got a free sandwich. What the heck is that about? And it just makes
the foul poles look ridiculous.
Additional Comments: Loved the rendition of "Deep in the
Heart of Texas" in the 7th inning stretch. Minute Maid Park's
outfield is just weird. There's the Crawford Boxes in left, a weird
angle that leads into the home bullpen in left center, Tal's Hill in
center, which is 436 feet from the plate, the visitors' bullpen on a
curve in right. It's like something cooked up out of Dr.
Frankenstein's lab. I did wish they opened the roof just so I could
experience outdoor baseball in Houston and see what it was like,
though I heard it gets hot in the park due to the city's
never-ending summer heat. The park promotes cheap baseball, as
Carlos Beltran hit a 310-foot opposite field homer into the Crawford
Boxes in left, which is cake for most hitters.
Ballpark Visited: Minute Maid Park
Submitted By: Stephen Tamm Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: It is a brand new ball park so it's
still a nice clean stadium. There are lots of attractions within
the stadium to keep you entertained. There is good food and plenty
beer if you're wallet is fat. The best part is the attitude of the
fans, the ushers and vendors. Everybody comes to have a good time
so you don't have to worry about catching too much attitude from
anybody, like you might at some stadiums like Angel stadium. HPD
has plenty of presence to keep everything under control. The area
is great too. It's right in downtown so there is plenty restaurants
and bars within walking distance of the stadium. The retractable
roof is great. Alot of times it's 100 degrees at game time so the
air conditioning keeps you cool. When it cools off around the end
of the game the roof opens and you catch that nice evening breeze
and fresh air.
Cons of the ballpark: The one thing that bothers me with the
new stadiums is the new seats. The seating is crowded (as it is
anywhere). I miss the old Astrodome seating. Minute Maid park
doesn't give you that overwhelming Astros presence like the Dome
did. If you don't know the Houston area very well good luck finding
somewhere to park.
Additional Comments: When the ballpark first opened most of
us old Astros fans didn't know what to think. Of course we all
missed the Dome. My first time trip to the stadium was a couple
games into the opening season. It was a whole new experience. Beer
was in plastic bottles and the new atmosphere was like being at a
road game. It's a great place to catch a ball game though. Great
people, air conditioned, and a great look. Very relaxing
atmosphere.
Ballpark Visited: Minute Maid Park
Submitted By: Neil Anderson Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: The best new ballpark I've seen yet!
Wow! I was not expecting much, as the outside really isn't much to
shake a stick at. Entering through Union Station was nice. It is
big, spacious and climate controlled. Once inside the park, there
are many features that catch the eye. The train over the left field
bleachers has a nostalgic feel. Tal's Hill, the sloped hill in
center field, adds a unique element to the game. I saw Lance Berkman
make an incredible play on the hill during my visit. That play gave
me a good perspective of how challenging that hill can be to
opposing outfielders. It is a spacious outfield in the power alleys,
but very short down the right/left field lines. The tall scoreboard
in left is very nice. Standing there for BP, we actually hung over
the field. The gas pump out in Center Field is a nice place to
gather and watch the action. The scoreboard is nice, and the
jumbotron was crystal clear with excellent sound.
Cons of the ballpark: There is so much brick (which looks
good), but way too much concrete and drab colored steel in the area
surrounding the scoreboards. It kind of contrasts the rest of the
park, but it is minor compared to all the positives about the place.
Additional Comments: I've been to a handful of parks and this
is my favorite by far! I live quite a ways from Houston, but would
absolutely go back.
Ballpark Visited:
Minute Maid Park Submitted By: John Bassett Grade: A
Pros of the ballpark: Quite Possibly the Best Looking
Ballpark in the Majors.
Cons: Promotes Home Run Happy
Baseball, Atmosphere not quite up to the par of the northeast or
south side Chicago ballparks
Additional Comments:
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