Minute Maid Park

Minute Maid Park in Downtown Houston opened in 2000 to house the Houston Astros, the city’s representation in Major League Baseball. Notably, the ballpark was Houston’s first retractable-roofed stadium, designed to protect fans and athletes from Houston’s notoriously humid weather and blistering heat while allowing open air access during favorable weather. The ballpark features a grass field, and the largest entrance to the park is inside what was once Houston’s Union Station so the left-field side of the stadium features a railway that pays homage to the site’s history. When an Astros player hits a home run or when the Astros win a game, the train moves along a track on top of the exterior wall beyond left field. The engine’s would-be coal car is instead filled with giant oranges in tribute to Minute Maid’s most famous product, orange juice.

Image Details