Minute Maid Park

Minute Maid Park has served as the home to the Houston Astros since 2000, in order to replace the out-of -date and multipurpose Astrodome. The Houston Astros needed a stadium that was solely meant for playing baseball. From the inception of it's planning, the number one priority was to make the new playing surface natural grass. This would be a drastic change from their previous home, as the Astrodome was known for its "AstroTurf" made out of synthetic rubber that would make the ball bounce higher than on regular grass. But in order for the new playing field to be grass,  the new field would have to include a retractable roof so there could be sunlight, but the fans could enjoy their game comfortably in the blazing Texas summers.

Located in the heart of the Downtown Houston, this ballpark has all the bells-and-whistles that separate it from all the others, and is recognizable to any fan. The distance to left field is only 310 feet, so the wall is 19 feet high and equipped with a full manual scoreboard. The wall also has a short porch that hangs over the playing field and makes would-be fly balls into homeruns. On the "Conoco Home Run Porch" their is a gas pump that shows the number of home runs hit since the ballparks opening, because oil rich Houston is often called "The Oil Capital of the World" due to it's energy industry which is host to more than 5,000 oil companies. Atop the wall lays, possibly, the most coveted seats in the majors. The Crawford Boxes. They are the greatest spot in the league for fans who want to catch home runs. These exclusive seats are called the Crawford Boxes because they were built parallel to Crawford Street, which stands behind the left field entrance to the stadium. The field was built beside the grounds of Union Station, a historic railway stop that goes through Downtown Houston. The Astros wanted the ballpark to pay homage to the famous location, so their is a train located atop the left field wall that passes by everytime an Astros player hits a home run. The train carries oranges, to honor the corporate sponsor of the stadium, Minute Maid, whose most popular product is orange juice.

Though Houston is home to NASA, Minute Maid Park is not a launching pad. The ballpark's short dimensions to left field is made up for by Tal's Hill. Standing in center field, the hill is the only inclined surface in the major leagues. The stadium is also 436 feet to center field, the longest distance in the major leagues. The incline is named after Houston Astros president Tal Smith, who requested it. Tal's Hill has been home to some of the most difficult catches, and fielders also have to avoid a flagpole that is, get this, on the playing field. The flagpole is the only one in a major league stasium that is on the playing field. Some people think the hill could cause injuries to players, but this feature makes it Minute Maid Park exceptional. The team has also added a new video board, nicknamed "El Grande," as it is the second largest in the MLB.

To all the fans who have only seen this astounding ballpark on TV, buy your tickets immediately. This ballpark is too good to miss and ranks among the leagues most amazing venues. Everything is bigger in Texas, and so are the crowds. So book ahead to get the best seats avialable. Although a lot of the Astros stars have retired or been traded away, the team has potential, as the 2012 season will play host to a new owner, with new ideas. While the Astros have had many disappointing seasons as of late, the ballpark keeps the fans coming. Going to Minute Maid Park is one of baseball's finest experiences, and will continue to be for the remainder of it's existence.

Minute Maid is home to many varieties of delicious food, that caters to the diverse people of Texas. Whether the retractable roof is opened, or closed, fans still have a great view of  the buildings in downtown Houston through large paned glass windows. The roof atop Minute Maid Park is different from most retractable roofs, as it doesn't change the quality of the game. When the roof is closed, the atmosphere still remains exceptional.

Next Weeks Edition of Ballpark Guide: Comerica Park in Detroit, MI