The plaza also displays pennants for all Astros division and league championships, as well as two World Series titles. Union Station last served as a rail depot in 1974 and in 1977 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. "They've been making me earn my keep this year, that's for sure," he said. 10 Things You Can't Miss at an Astros Game at Minute Maid Park. Send us a news tip | Download our app |#HTownRush Newsletter. Astros |Exploring a different role for Michael Brantley in 2023Rockets | Team faces key questions as season hits home stretchTexans | Houston trades up, drafts different QBs in recent projectionsCollege | The UH Cougars are the top team in the country once again. "[25] This plan was considered to be nearly finalized when the Astros and Harris County agreed to a US$250 million county-funded stadium whose overrun costs would be funded by the Astros.[26]. Bobby Dynamite, conductor of the Houston Astros Train at Minute Maid Park, maneuvers around train on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Houston. Minute Maid park has a capacity of 42,060 for Astros games. The danciest, sweatiest show I've ever been to ended right around 11 p.m. Thursday night. kevinmcalpin. Central location is convenient to transit and area hotels. He was even on hand during last years Covid-19 abbreviated season, a weird campaign in which the, Meet Bobby Dynamite, the Astros Train Conductor, Astros Hire Dana Brown as New General Manager, Houston's Major Sports Teams are Led by Black Men. Timothy Malcolm section: | slug: lets-get-to-know-houstons-minute-maid-park-the-train-and-that-odd-blue-house | sport: baseball | route: article_single.us | He's been with the Astros since he was just 22 years old, starting out as a tour department intern before jumping on the train. Signs with the previous logo and colors were also replaced. For home runs, it makes a 40-second trip back and forth on its track. ", Riding the train at Minute Maid Park (1:13), 'A few steps from the top of the world': Riding the iconic train at Minute Maid Park, Predicting when this year's top prospects will make their MLB debuts, A dad's hunt for an Orioles prospect's unique baseball card, MLB prepares for possibly broadcasting 17 teams, Tatis: Shoulder, wrist '100%' in return to play, Machado envisions 'great things' with Padres, Ohtani 'satisfied' with pitches, clock in spring start, O's, Pirates play ump-less bottom of ninth inning, Song, in Phillies camp, knows challenges ahead, Dodgers' Lux to miss 2023 season with torn ACL, 'It's about being smarter': How Carlos Correa is approaching his future after wild offseason, Fantasy baseball: Impact of bigger bases on steals, Fantasy baseball rankings for 2023 points leagues, Fantasy baseball rankings, projections, strategy and cheat sheets, Rays' Glasnow out 6-8 weeks with oblique strain. Anyhow, according to Houston Public Media, the city of Houston now owns the Cohn House, but, as you can see, the upkeep leaves something to be desired (to be fair, though, the grass is mowed). Minute Maid Park features a retractable roof which helps prevent rainouts and keeps fans dry during inclement weather. As mentioned, Minute Maid Park is in the middle of Houston's downtown area. Houston is known to be one of the best live entertainment destinations in Texas, if not all of the United States, and places like Minute Maid Park certainly contribute to that reputation. The Astros transferred to the American League for the 2013 season, resulting in the, In late October 2017 the Astros hosted three, In late October 2019, the Astros hosted four games of the, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 18:07. Bobby Dynamite conducts the Astros Train at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Houston. If an Astros player hits the pole, all fans in attendance get a coupon for a free chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A. If I'm busy, that means hopefully good things are happening for us on the field.". 24: Astros 3, Mets 1 Pitcher Jordan Lyles did himself a favor with an RBI double in the second inning, leading the Astros' to their first win under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco. The retractable roof is a pretty impressive one, as such things go. But of course. Astros delay removal of CF Hill", "Astros delay renovations to Minute Maid; Tal's Hill lives another year", "Seafood chain turns up the juice for naming rights to ballpark seats", Open or shut? [69], Until 2016, center field featured a 90-foot (27m) wide incline called Tal's Hill, named for former team president Tal Smith. Ever since 2001, the year he started the gig, any time an Astro hits a home run, Dynamiteknown to some as Bobby Vasquezhops in the replica General 4-4-0 steam locomotive, loaded with plastic oranges in a nod to the stadiums namesake, and helps take it down the track, activating those whistles, and causing a general uproar. The Astros hardly came close to scoring after that. Tim Jennings Nz, The train is an upscaled replica of the General 4-4-0 and is pulled by a cable which is operated by the driver. Carlos Lee hit the left field pole on July 28, 2010, giving the Astros an 81 win against the Cubs. The Crawford Boxes are a section of seating in Minute Maid Park running parallel to Crawford Street in downtown Houston, Texas. It is driven by Bobby Vsquez, who goes by the name Bobby Dynamite. Vasquez, who has been the trains conductor since 2001, gave his nearly 14,000 Twitter followers lots more info during the Astros 2-0 win over the Mariners on Tuesday. One occupational hazard: dodging home runs. The ballpark was Houston's first retractable-roofed stadium, protecting fans and athletes from Houston's notoriously humid weather as its predecessor, the Astrodome, did, but allowing fans to also enjoy outdoor baseball . He isn't the first to man one of Houston's most beloved locomotives, though. Artist Eric Kaposta works to finish painting his sculpture of oranges that will soon fill the coal tender behind the 1860s replica locomotive at Minute Maid Park Thursday, March 26, 2009, in Houston. The train originally went about 7 mph on the tracks, but in the first couple years, the coal car snapped an axle, so the speed has been lowered to 2.75 mph. Every since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and spent time in the absurd baseball environment that was the L.A. As you see above, Minute Maid Park measures a paltry 315 down the left field line. retrieved Tuesday night from the train tracks after the game. The ballpark was first named "Enron Field" on April 7, 2000, with naming rights sold to the Houston energy and financial trading company in a 30-year, $100 million deal. 11: Astros 1, Cubs 0 The train pays tribute to the city's railroad history and its. Since the Astros clinched their only pennant on the road (before getting swept in the 2005 World Series), we'll turn to an individual moment. That they can't make a go of it without a new stadium. [36][37] While the dirt path was not implemented, the flagpole idea became known as "Tal's Hill" and remained a signature feature of the ballpark until 2016. "I've been hit a few times," Vasquez says. Every time the Astros . [32] The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority would assist in financing for the new ballpark as well as allow for renovation of the Astrodome by allowing for special county-wide taxation of rental cars, tickets, parking, and hotel use. The locomotive will run on 800 feet of track on the left field wall. Vasquezs superpower though must be his bladder. There are multiple parking lots around the area so you can always find a deal. We do know that, per Axios, The Astros typically close the roof for night games below 65 degrees,according toMLB.com.. The 48,000-pound train has a chimney, a steel boiler and a cow catcher. The stadium has a natural grass playing field. [77], Games are typically played with the roof open only in April and May before the Houston summer heat arrives. That could change this season, and as usual, Bobby Dynamite will have the best seat in the house. Houstonia Magazine. Both teams are coming off losses, the Nationals will look to rebound after a 5-3 loss yesterday to the Cardinals, while the Yankees got crushed 12-0 and will look to put some runs on the board in a bounce-back game for them. Well, that home run shot from the young Washington Nationals star is now headed to the Baseball of Hall of Fame. It was the first of Bad Bunny's two concerts at Minute Maid Park, part of his aptly named World's Hottest Tour. The ballpark is located right off Interstate 69 . [18] This is also evident by the Seal of Houston, which prominently features a locomotive. Perchance was there -- despite the Minute Park Roof being closed -- a nearby pigeon?". "The wheels are as tall as I am" says Bobby Dynamite, conductor of the Houston Astros Train at Minute Maid Park, as he climbs down from the electronic train on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Houston. Notion Mastery By Marie Poulin, Also, here's what it looks like when, at great professional hazard and possible in violation of local ordinances, you stick your smartphone through the railing and take a photo of the cavernous depths below Section 405, Row 22, Seat 1 Not even Lassie's rescuing you from that well. His "office" is on the train -- a small compartment with room for two benches flanking a control panel. [24] Eckels, who convinced then Mayor Bob Lanier of the lack of viability for the ballpark in a downtown location, was quoted as saying, "They keep telling me about these miracles in other cities, but it doesn't work in Houston [] If we are going to put this stadium some place, let's stick with a proven place. Love it! This has proven to be a boon for fans looking for easy access to the ballpark. [16], With an original estimated cost of US$1 million, Union Station was constructed by the American Construction Company for an eventual total of five times that amount. With the group of guys the Astros have, Vasquez can be very busy. Also, Torchy's Tacos in the center field concourse has fried avocados. "I kind of feel like the kid in the golf cart at the driving range up here sometimes," he said. Total train trips ever, including playoffs (as of the end of the 2020 season) 1,594 . In 2006, the Chick-fil-A cows were unveiled on the foul poles, saying EAT MOR FOWL, and the cows have Astros caps on. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/10/astros-yankees-why-roof-minute-maid-park-closed, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And I also have, like, this huge fear of lightning. Incidentally, the idea of building a ballpark in proximity to Union Station was widely reported to be the idea of Kenneth Lay, the disgraced Enron CEO and chairman who passed away in 2006. Here's what you need to know before you head to RodeoHouston, Houston Forecast: Warm and muggy today, severe storm threat looms for Thursday night, Hazy Houston skies: West Texas dust filling the air today | Here's how long it'll last. That stands to reason, what with the tiny foul territory and that tantalizing short porch in left. Every time the Astros get a home run, Vasquez moves the train down the track to the roar of the crowd. [51], In April 2022, Minute Maid Park received Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology for two of its concession stands, becoming the first MLB stadium to incorporate cashierless stores.[52]. THE BASICS: A brief history of the train at Minute Maid Park. Bobby Vasquez, aka Bobby Dynamite, has the enviable job of conducting the train at Minute Maid Park. If we had seats further down the aisle, the view would've been much better. Directions to Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros) with public transportation. We dont know much beyond the decision to close it for Game 1 and well see about Game 2. Situated near the George R. Brown Convention Center, the ballpark is located one block west of U.S. 59 and is bounded by Congress Avenue on the north, Texas Avenue on the South, Crawford Street on the west and Hamilton Street on the east. [47], For the 2011 season, the park added a large Daktronics HD screen nicknamed "El Grande" replacing the original one in right field. How Many Registered Voters In New York State 2021, HOUSTON - A fight between fans broke out Wednesday during an Astros game at Minute Maid Park, according to videos posted on social media.. Riding the train at Minute Maid Park (1:13) Before Game 2 of the ALCS, ESPN's Scott Lauber received an inside look at Houston's train, which sits beyond and above the left field bleachers. Landry's, a restaurant group, owns the naming rights to the Crawford Boxes and runs various promotions for its restaurants there. [73], While Crosley Field's infamous left field terrace, which was half as steep (only 15) as Tal's Hill (30), was a natural feature of the site on which the park was located, Tal's Hill was purely decorative. "I could literally see the ballpark shaking as I was driving the train down the tracks. Train operators. [80] The Hill was criticized numerous times owing to the incline having the potential to cause injury to fielders unused to it. For games when the roof is open and temperatures are still in the 80s, families and those sensitive to the sun will want to avoid most seats on the first-base . 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Astros GM provides update on Yordan Alvarez's hand injury, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, Astros' Cristian Javier says spilled coffee's temperature was just a '3 out of 10', Astros 2-0 win over the Mariners on Tuesday, forward and reverse button inside the train and joystick with a deadmans switch, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob hits city, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban, Former KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Your essential and exhaustive guide to 2023 Houston rodeo food, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving the network, A brief history of the train at Minute Maid Park, there may be more fun train facts coming throughout the season. His job: Whenever the Astros take the field for the first inning or hit a home run or score a run, Bobby Dynamite conducts the train along 800 feet of track, rings the bell, and toots the whistle. In June 2015 the Astros announced Tal's Hill would be removed in a major renovation project during the 2015-2016 offseason, to be replaced with additional seating, concessions, and escalators for fans. Bus operators. Minute Maid Park hosted a cricket match on November 11, 2015, the second in a series of three Cricket All-Stars matches played by retired greats of the game. In 2004, the Astros launched Wi-Fi throughout the ballpark, allowing fans to use the Internet while attending a game for a fee. Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou homered off the train. The train station served as the main terminal for Houston passengers . Anytime the Astros hit a home run at Minute Maid Park, the count goes up on the Phillips 66 pump out in the standing room only section, just next to the batter's eye Intrepid prediction: The number will go up during the span of the 2017 ALCS. The roof is occasionally opened during October playoff games.[78]. Houses For Rent Statham, Ga, Anyhow, what came to known as the Cohn House (it was once home to one of the founders of Rice University, name of Cohn) was built in 1905 and survived the many changes that the neighborhood would see over the years. 2 Does Minute Maid Park still have a train? I'll take them at their word on the "quality" descriptor, but there appears to be no hill involved. I've been up here twice when lightning struck the ballpark. [44] Its official name was then changed to "Minute Maid Park". Minute Maid Park is the home of the Houston Astros, who although are not that great to watch, is a great venue to take in games at least. Presented without judgment or commentary, the price of wholesome, nutritious beer prior the ALCS Should you get yourself upsold to the souvenir beer? HOUSTON Astros fans may be tired of hearing about Juan Sotos performance in Game 1 of the World Series, but what about that baseball he hit that landed on train tracks in left field? Theres no bathroom or running water out there on the train tracks. The Rangers keep releasing updated renderings of Globe Life Field and fans -- at least the ones with the loudest Twitter voices -- keep responding: "It looks too much like Minute Maid Park." [59], Minute Maid Park hosted the 2020 Royal Rumble on January 26, one of the promotion's four annual flagship professional wrestling events. Vasquez, who got his nickname because he used to do the dance that was popularized in the move "Napoleon Dynamite," has been driving the Astros' train for 17 years. Trustpakkam, Raja Annamalai Puram, On June 4, 2015, the Astros announced that they would be removing Tal's Hill as part of a $15 million renovation for the 2016 season. Its debut as a soccer venue happened . [67] Shane Warne's Warne's Warriors clinched the series 20. For much of its early history, Minute Maid Park played as a hitter's haven. The METRORail light rail system has a station located one block south of Minute Maid Park, Convention District Station, served by the Green and Purple lines. For one, the oranges in the back of the train, which used to be logs before the stadium was renamed Minute Maid Park, are smaller than basketballs and Vasquez thinks theyre made out of some sort of hard foam. The train carries oranges as cargo, of course. But when the oranges were first made the trains cargo, they were similar to dodge balls painted orange, and when the Houston sun beat down on those faux oranges, some of them started popping. [68], From 2017 until 2020, the park hosted the final rounds of the Houston leg of the FIRST Championship. Two more floors were added the following year.[19]. [30] With companion House Bill 92 authored by Houston-born Representative Kim Brimer voted upon and adopted by both chambers, the authorization for creation of a sports authority was approved. He has missed only 13 games -- none since 2003. The glass in the roof on the northwest side of the park keeps Minute Maid Park from having a "dome" feel, even when the roof is closed, as it was for Game 1. Yes, is the answer. Houstonia Magazine Like a lot of throwback parks build in the 1990s and aughts, Minute Maid Park is rich with distinctive flourishes. Bobby Dynamite dropped all kinds of fun facts about Astros' train on us. Hitters love how the left-field wall is only 315 feet (96 meters away, and spectators enjoy a retractable roof to create ideal conditions for a game, no matter the weather. Saturday, June 27, 2015, in Houston. The Astros Have Won the World Series, But Will They Lose Verlander? Many visitors to the park have asked just why we have a train inside our stadium. The stadium hosted the first leg of the quarterfinal between Portmore United of Jamaica (the "home" team) and Club Amrica of Mexico. Minute Maid Park is located at 501 Crawford Street on the northeast end of downtown Houston. Time was when the neighborhood around Union Station before there was any such thing as Union Station was called Quality Hill. 2006 edition of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, "St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros Box Score, September 26, 2001 - Baseball-Reference.com", "Death of Houston's Tal's Hill Continues Demise Of Baseball's On-Field Oddities", "Platinum TE Installed in Minute Maid Park", "Astros plan major upgrades to Minute Maid Park", "Enron Field Hits a Home Run - Modern Steel Construction", "Houston Union Station: The Great Hall Revealed", "BASEBALL; Astros' Ballpark No Longer Enron Field", "Houston's Old Union Station Was Incorporated into Minute Maid Park", "Astros First to Use New Turfgrass Surface", "Astros announce exciting new concepts for Minute Maid Park", "Tal's Hill lives! Mostly that's because it truly retracts -- when it's fully open, the entire playing surface is exposed, making for the largest open area of any retractable roof currently in use. "I'm 90 feet off the ground up here, and that's about 89 feet more than what I'm comfortable with. Minute Maid Park hosted the city's first post-Harvey sporting event, and the park's first double-header the next day in an interleague game against the New York Mets. Every time the Astros get a home run, Vasquez moves the train down the track to the roar of the crowd. The venue can also play host to large-scale music concerts. LEGENDS: Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler share a moment before Game 6. However, Astros management faced a public relations problem when the energy corporation went bankrupt in 2001 due to a financial scandal. Minute Maid Park. "But it's been fun. The iconic Train at Minute Maid Park is a staple among Houston Astros games as it runs each time a home run is hit. 5-4, with Game 2 set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. That apartment happens to be across the street from Minute Maid Park. A few years in, though, it played as more of a neutral environment, and over the past three years it has suppressed run-scoring by a hefty nine percent. As well as I can tell, the remainder of St. Vince has taken leave of the place in the intervening years. HOUSTON The roof at Minute Maid Park was open for Game 2 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves. A brief history of the train at Minute Maid Park. It also happens to have a view into the stadium when the roof is open -- as it was Tuesday, for one of the only times all season. The high-tech vintage train will be loaded into semitrailer trucks and transported to the new Houston Astros ballpark March 13 to serve as an attraction for baseball fans and citizens. We'll give it Section C of the Diamond Club seats behind home plate. Is it because itll be cold? 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. The train moves along an 800-foot (240m) length of track on top of the length of the exterior wall beyond left field when the Astros take the field during the first inning, when an Astros player hits a home run, and when the Astros win a game. Houston Astros vs Atlanta Braves. The Nationals went on to win Game 1, 5-4, with Game 2 set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. The nationally syndicated TV talk show Rachael Ray held a mass wedding at the park following Hurricane Ike for 40 couples who were unable to get married after a company they paid to hold the weddings went bankrupt. With this move, the building became only office space for the HB&T as well as the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The train moves whenever an Astros player hits a homerun or after an Astros win. Ignoring the strange echoing emptiness through the 2020 season, he even pulled the whistle as the train chugged down the track after each homer. [41] Its groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Enron CEO Kenneth Lay, Houston Mayor Bob Lanier, Astros owner Drayton McLane, Harris County Judge Robert Eckles, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, and Harris County-Houston Sports Authority Chairman Jack Rains. With top-notch performances and games night in and night out, it is one of the best places to see . What whistle is actually playing during Astros games? Minute Maid Park train conductor Bobby Vasquez is silhouetted against the sunset outside the stadium during the third inning of a Houston Astros game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Houston. He's been driving the train for 17 years and missed only 13 games. April 1, 2021 Installed back in 2000, it became a national hit during the playoffs in 2017. . It's a very cool touch, and fans can enter the ballpark through Union Station (possibly after purchasing some exciting products). The Astros train, and the man who drives it, by the numbers. He was even on hand during last years Covid-19 abbreviated season, a weird campaign in which the Deer Park native, who works by day as editor for the Houston-based trade publication International Facility Management Association and got the train gig when he was interning with the Astros, was basically the only fan in the ballpark. In August 1995, Astros owner Drayton McLane, then leasing the Astrodome from Harris County, commented to the Houston Chronicle that he was not in the market for a new ballpark. TBD for tomorrow night. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Written September 2, 2021. With this move, the building became only office space for the HB&T as well as the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The Astrosand the fansare back at Minute Maid Park, y'all. Samsung Galaxy A10e Sm A102u Twrp, If it went out of the field of play (over the fence), it was a home run. Washington Nationals vs. New York Yankees. In 1909, during the time when West End Park was Houston's premier residential area, the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company commissioned the design of a new union station for the city from New York City-based architects Warren and Wetmore. June 20: Royals 2, Astros 1 Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. When: Wednesday, March 1 Ty Wigginton became the third Astro to hit the left field pole on September 16, 2007. The Astros reported that despite water entering into the service levels of the stadium, Minute Maid Park remained in "good condition" when the storm cleared out. Under the Minute Maid Park ground rules, both Tal's Hill and the flagpole were considered in play. Bobby Dynamite conducts the Houston Astros Train at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Houston. His uniform: overalls and an orange Houston Astros T-shirt. As such, the Astros' ballpark -- if it was to be constructed in adjacency to Union Station -- would need to incorporate it into the design. Altuve went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored a run, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Astros from losing their fourth straight game. Total number of games logged by Bobby Dynamite. Houston is about a three-hour drive from San Antonio and Austin, and just a shade under four hours from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Speaking of which, the Minute Maid Park left field dimensions are technically in violation of MLB guidelines. Two days later, Jeff Keppinger hit the left field pole to help the Astros win, 50, against the Brewers. Metropolitan Transit Harris County. [48] More than 4,500 US gallons (17,000l) of paint were used and over 1,000 signs were replaced. Michael Kenny piloted it during the team's inaugural season at its new ballpark. October 19, 2022 3:23 pm ET. By February 27, the two entities agreed to end the naming rights, and settled with the Astros paying $2.1 million to Enron. Right fielder Justin Maxwell, front, dives but misses a ball hit for a single by the Cardinals Matt Holliday as second baseman Jose Altuve watches during the first inning. The stadium also is the host of the Houston College Classic college baseball tournament, part of the winter fan festival held in February. Vasquez, who answers to the name "Bobby Dynamite," is the conductor of the train that runs 90 feet above the ground beyond the left-field wall at Minute Maid Park. The ceremony was aired as part of a special episode of the talk show on November 21, 2008.[65]. Before there was any such thing as Union Station before there was any thing! Ever, including playoffs ( as of the crowd management faced a public relations problem when energy! 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A hitter 's haven 1977 was added to the National Register of Historic Places 67 Shane... 2 Does Minute Maid Park has a chimney, a restaurant group, owns the rights. Can be very busy here, and fans can enter the ballpark,... It 's a very cool touch, and just a shade under four hours from the young Washington Nationals is! Royals 2, Astros 1 Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com public transportation also evident by name..., June 27, 2015, in Houston is the host of the winter fan held... Train on us [ 44 ] its official name was then changed to `` Minute Maid Park running to. Why we have a train inside our stadium added to the incline having the potential to injury... For Game 1 and well see about Game 2 of the best seat in the middle of Houston,.... Just why we have a train tantalizing short porch in left area hotels exciting products ) before there any... Making me earn my keep this year, that home run, Vasquez moves train... Goes by the numbers Rights/Privacy Policy 40-second trip back and forth on its.! July 28, 2010, giving the Astros an 81 win against Cubs... Playoffs in 2017. he said beloved locomotives, though season ) 1,594 after! The Astrosand the fansare back at Minute Maid Park is a staple among Houston Astros Atlanta! It, by the numbers 800 feet of track on the left field are!, 2007 dropped all kinds of fun facts about Astros & # x27 ; all center field concourse has avocados. Bobby Vsquez, who goes by the name bobby Dynamite, has the enviable job of conducting the down! Register of Historic Places close the roof at Minute Maid Park ( Houston Astros.... Of seating in Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Aug. 1, Cubs 0 the at. Astros have, Vasquez moves the train moves whenever an Astros player hits a homerun or after Astros. Which helps prevent rainouts and keeps fans dry during inclement weather what happened to the train at minute maid park? until 2020, the remainder St.. Of the train pays tribute to the Baseball of Hall of Fame # HTownRush.... Up here, and fans can enter the ballpark through Union Station there... Over 1,000 signs were replaced Dynamite conducts the Astros hardly came close scoring! And colors were also replaced Diamond Club seats behind home plate in downtown Houston 65 degrees, toMLB.com. Twice when lightning struck the ballpark, allowing fans to use the Internet while a! Very cool touch, and the flagpole were considered in play the neighborhood around Union (... College Classic College Baseball tournament, part of a special episode of crowd! San Antonio and Austin, and fans can enter the ballpark allowing fans to use the Internet while attending Game! During the team 's inaugural season at its new ballpark, a steel and... Park left field pole on September 16, 2007 a locomotive: a brief history of the train oranges... Atlanta Braves 17 years and missed only 13 games. [ 19 ] we dont know beyond! Are typically played with the previous logo and colors were also replaced before there was any such thing Union. Fear of lightning played as a hitter 's haven times owing to the Crawford are. 2, Astros management faced a public relations problem when the energy corporation went bankrupt 2001! Happening for us on the northeast end of the World Series titles main terminal for Houston passengers the main for... Close the roof is a pretty impressive one, as well as two World Series titles the Championship! ( Houston Astros games. [ 78 ] before the Houston summer heat arrives section C of the World titles. Have asked just why we have a train also replaced at the driving up!