Why does Minute Maid Park have a train?
Most Astros fans know the basics of the train: It’s a 15-foot tall and 56-foot long replica of an 1862 steam locomotive that was brought to Houston when Minute Maid Park – then known as the Ballpark at Union Station – opened in 2000. Why a train? Because the west side of Minute Maid Park used to be Union Station.
Who drives the train at Minute Maid Park?
Bobby Dynamite
Meet Bobby Dynamite, the Astros Train Conductor.
Why is Minute Maid Park roof always closed?
According to the Astros, the roof is closed for the threat of rain, the threat of sustained winds above 30 mph, temperatures below 65 degrees for a night game and air temperature or heat-index readings above 88 degrees for a night game or 84 for a day game. That caused some controversy at the 2005 World Series.
When did the Astros move to Minute Maid Park?
2000
However, funding was approved for a new Astros ballpark in downtown Houston. The Astros played three more season at the Astrodome, playing their final game on October 9, 1999. In 2000 they moved into Minute Maid Park.
Was Minute Maid Park a train station?
When constructed in 2000, Minute Maid Park was named The Ballpark at Union Station. The actual Union Station opened in 1911. The train station served as the main terminal for Houston passengers for more than 70 years.
Does the train at Minute Maid Park move?
The train moves along an 800-foot (240 m) 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.
How much does it cost to open the roof at Minute Maid Park?
The shape of the ballpark is due to the 242-foot high retractable roof that can open or close in about 20 minutes. The roof, which cost $65 million, retracts completely off the ballpark when open, which is supposedly 60 percent of the time.
Can you bring purses into Minute Maid Park?
For everyone’s safety, bags exceeding 16” x 16” x 8” and backpacks are not permitted inside Minute Maid Park. All bags will be searched upon entry. See full Bag Policy for details.
What is the Houston Astrodome used for now?
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Fifty-five years after it first opened to the public as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Astrodome now sits stripped and empty, used only as a warehouse.
What baseball team has a train?
We figured out why the train at Minute Maid Park moves at certain points of the game. HOUSTON — If you’ve ever been to an Astros game, you’ve most likely seen (and heard) the train that runs on top of the left-field wall of the stadium along Crawford Street.
Is Minute Maid Park grass or turf?
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas A: Seashore Paspalum is the primary turf grass at Minute Maid Field. It is grown on a farm in southern Georgia and delivered on an as-needed basis. Tal’s Hill, the wide centerfield incline, is planted in Zoysia grass.
What are the Astros shooting stars?
Houston Astros Shooting Stars. The Coca-Cola Shooting Stars have quickly become Houston fan favorites during Astros home games at Minute Maid Park. Since the squad’s debut in 2014, the Shooting Stars have brought energy and excitement to Astros games.
When does the train at Minute Maid Park move?
Union Station was abandoned in the mid-1970s when Houston’s Amtrak station opened in 1974. When does the train inside Minute Maid Park move? The train moves for three reasons: When the Astros take the field in the first inning, when an Astros player hits a home run and when the Astros win a game.
How did Minute Maid Park get its name?
It’s an ode to what once sat at the ballpark’s location: Union Station. When constructed in 2000, Minute Maid Park was named The Ballpark at Union Station. The actual Union Station opened in 1911. The train station served as the main terminal for Houston passengers for more than 70 years.
How old was Hayden Schaefer at Minute Maid Park?
Four year old Hayden Schaefer looks at the train at Enron Field in Houston Friday April 7, 2000 at the Houston Astros’ home season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.