The Inside Scoop by our Local Expert
Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, home of the town's beloved Houston Astros Major League Baseball team, is one of the highlights of downtown Houston's skyline. In its inaugural season in 2000, Minute Maid Park ushered in more than 3,000,000 fans, and the Houston Astros continue to be a hot ticket.One of the interesting features of Minute Maid Park is that it provides a natural grass field for the players; since 1964, the Houston Astros played on artificial turf due to the extreme heat of the Bayou City's summers. A 242-foot retractable roof is able to keep fans cool and the grass green at Minute Maid Park. Unlike at other ball parks, the roof at Minute Maid Park is able to retract completely. When it is covering the field, a 50,000 square foot area of glass in the roof allows fans to enjoy the game and the Houston skyline at the same time.In addition to its capacity for hosting over 40,000 fans at any given Houston Astros game, Minute Maid Park also houses a 16-room Conference Center for meetings, as well as ample event space throughout the ball park. Minute Maid Park's main entrance is through Union Station, the historic train station built in 1911 that welcomes thousands of commuters each day, as well as houses the offices of many executives in the Houston Astros organization.