View source for Daikin Park

{{Short description|Baseball stadium in Houston, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Daikin Park
| nickname = ''The Ice Box''
| logo_image = Daikin_Park_logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| image = Houston, Texas (2024) - 09.jpg
| caption = Daikin Park in 2024
| address = 501 Crawford Street
| location = [[Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|29|45|25|N|95|21|20|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| pushpin_map = USA Texas Houston downtown#Texas#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Daikin Park
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Houston]]##Location in [[Texas]]##Location in the [[United States]]
| publictransit = {{rint|houston|metro}} [[METRORail]]: {{rint|houston|green}} {{rint|houston|purple}} (at [[Convention District (METRORail station)|Convention District]])<br />{{rint|houston|metro}} METRO bus: 3, 6, 11, 20, 30, 37, 48, 50, 77, 137, 163, 236, 255, 256, 257
| broke_ground = {{Start date|1997|11|1}}
| opened = {{Start date and age|2000|03|30}} (exhibition)<br /> {{Start date and age|2000|04|07}} (regular season)
| renovated = 2010 (offseason), 2017 (offseason)<ref name="renovation">{{cite news |title=Astros plan major upgrades to Minute Maid Park|first=Zachary|last=Levine|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-plan-major-upgrades-to-Minute-Maid-Park-1706016.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 7, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2010}}</ref>
| owner = [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]]-[[Houston]] Sports Authority
| operator = Harris County-Houston Sports Authority
| roof = [[Retractable roof|Retractable]]
| surface = [[Paspalum|Platinum TE Paspalum]] (grass)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sodfather.com/news/platinum-te-installed-minute-maid-park.asp|title=Platinum TE Installed in Minute Maid Park|website=www.sodfather.com|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>
| construction_cost = US$250 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|250000000|2000}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = [[Populous (company)|HOK Sport (now Populous)]]<br />Molina & Associates
| project_manager = Schindewolfe and Associates<ref name="MS"/>
| structural engineer = [[Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants|Walter P Moore]]<ref name="MS"/>
| services engineer = M-E Engineers, Inc. (Bowl)<ref>[http://www.me-engineers.com/awards/ M-E Engineers, Inc. | Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130128194917/http://www.me-engineers.com/awards/ |date=2013-01-28 }}</ref><br />Uni-Systems, Inc. (Roof)<ref name="MS"/>
| general_contractor = [[KBR (company)|Brown & Root]]/Barton Malow/Empire Joint Venture<ref name="MS">{{cite web|url=http://www.modernsteel.com/Uploads/Issues/October_2000/0010_01_enron.pdf|title=Enron Field Hits a Home Run - Modern Steel Construction|access-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508204639/http://www.modernsteel.com/Uploads/Issues/October_2000/0010_01_enron.pdf|archive-date=2013-05-08}}</ref>
| former_names = The Ballpark at Union Station (planning phase)<br />Enron Field (2000–2002)<br />Astros Field (February–July 2002)<br />Minute Maid Park (July 2002–January 1, 2025)
| tenants = [[Houston Astros]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) 2000–present
| seating_capacity = 41,168 (2017–present)<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 Houston Astros Media Guide|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/documents/5/3/0/215989530/Houston_Astros_2017_Media_Guide_kf0srvyb.pdf|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=February 14, 2017|access-date=February 17, 2017|page=505|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218065723/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/documents/5/3/0/215989530/Houston_Astros_2017_Media_Guide_kf0srvyb.pdf}}</ref><br />41,676 (2016)<ref>{{cite web |title=2016 Houston Astros Media Guide|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/documents/0/6/8/164866068/Houston_Astros_2016_Media_Guide_711va9li.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410201622/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/documents/0/6/8/164866068/Houston_Astros_2016_Media_Guide_711va9li.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2016|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=February 18, 2016|access-date=March 28, 2016|page=500}}</ref><br />41,574 (2015)<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Houston Astros Media Guide|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/documents/5/1/8/109823518/2015_Houston_Astros_Media_Guide_pqu5bl0o.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115629/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/documents/5/1/8/109823518/2015_Houston_Astros_Media_Guide_pqu5bl0o.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=February 23, 2015|access-date=March 6, 2015|page=485}}</ref><br />42,060 (2013–2014)<ref>{{cite web |title=2013 Houston Astros Media Guide|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/9/3/8/41803938/Houston_Astros_2013_Media_Guide_u74z4gze.pdf|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=February 19, 2013|access-date=April 4, 2013|page=452}}</ref><br />40,981 (2012)<ref>2012 Houston Astros Media Guide</ref><br />40,963 (2011)<ref name="2011 changes">{{cite news |title='El Grande' Video Scoreboard is Just One of Many Upgrades Found at Minute Maid|last=Barron|first=David|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3389330.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=April 7, 2005|access-date=September 12, 2011}}</ref><br />40,976 (2006–2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/33/baseball-valuations-10_Houston-Astros_335701.html|title=#11 Houston Astros - Forbes.com|website=www.forbes.com|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref><br />40,950 (2000–2005)
| record_attendance = 44,203, September 26, 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200109260.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros Box Score, September 26, 2001 - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>
| dimensions = '''Left field''' – {{convert|315|ft|m|1}}<br />'''Left-center''' – {{convert|366|ft|m|1}}<br />'''Left-center''' (deep) – {{convert|399|ft|m|1}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimpagels/2017/01/06/death-of-houstons-tals-hill-continues-demise-of-baseballs-on-field-oddities/#508f73c73667|title=Death of Houston's Tal's Hill Continues Demise Of Baseball's On-Field Oddities|work=Forbes|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref><br />'''Center field''' – {{convert|409|ft|m|1}}<br />'''Right-center''' (deep) {{convert|408|ft|m|1}}<br />'''Right-center''' – {{convert|370|ft|m|1}}<br />'''Right field''' – {{convert|326|ft|m|1}}<br />'''Backstop''' – {{convert|49|ft|m|0}} [[File:MinuteMaidParkDimensions.svg|200px]]
| scoreboard = {{convert|54|ft|m|1}} high by {{convert|124|ft|m|1}} wide
| parking = Estimated 25,000 total spots within walking distance
| website = {{URL|https://www.mlb.com/astros/ballpark|mlb.com/astros/ballpark}}
}}
'''Daikin Park''' (originally '''Enron Field''' and formerly '''Astros Field''' and '''Minute Maid Park''') is a [[retractable roof]] [[stadium]] in [[Houston]], Texas, United States. It opened in 2000 and is the home [[ballpark]] of the [[Houston Astros]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). The ballpark has a seating capacity of 41,168, which includes 5,197 club seats and 63 luxury suites, with a natural grass playing field. It was built as a replacement for the [[Astrodome]], the first domed baseball/football stadium, which opened in 1965.

==History==
[[File:Minute Maid Park logo.svg|left|thumb|Former logo of Minute Maid Park]] 
===Union Station and pre-ballpark era===
{{Main|Union Station (Houston)}}
In 1909, during the time when [[West End Park (Houston)|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]]. The location called for the demolition of several structures of Houston prominence. [[Horace Baldwin Rice]]'s residence and [[Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Texas)|Adath Yeshurun Congregation's]] synagogue among other structures were removed.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/houstonahistory00writmiss|title=Houston: A History and Guide|year=1942|publisher=The Anson Jones Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/houstonahistory00writmiss/page/260 260]|access-date=December 18, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:HoustonUnionStation1913.png|thumb|left|An illustration of [[Union Station (Houston)|Union Station]], 1913]]

With an original estimated cost of US$1 million, [[Union Station (Houston)|Union Station]] was constructed by the American Construction Company for an eventual total of five times that amount.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grand Station of Terminal Co.|newspaper=Magnolia Park News|date=September 19, 1909|page=1}}</ref>  Exterior walls were constructed of [[granite]], [[limestone]], and [[terracotta]], while the interior used an extensive amount of [[marble]]. It was completed and opened on March 1, 1911. At the time, Houston, with 17 railways, was considered the main railroad hub of the [[Southern United States]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Houston:_Where_Seventeen_Railroads_Meet_the_Sea|title=Houston: Where Seventeen Railroads Meet the Sea|last=Farbar|first=Jerome Hammond|year=1913|publisher=H. H. Tammen Company|access-date=December 18, 2013}}</ref> This is also evident by the [[Seal of Houston]], which prominently features a locomotive. Two more floors were added the following year.<ref name="Union Station Renovation">{{cite web|title=Houston Union Station: The Great Hall Revealed|first=Tom|last=Marsh|url=http://www.houstonrrmuseum.org/union/union.htm|publisher=Gulf Coast Chapter NRHS|year=1999|access-date=December 18, 2013|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219092653/http://www.houstonrrmuseum.org/union/union.htm|archive-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref>

The station served as the main inter-city passenger terminal for Houston for over seven decades thereafter. Passenger rail declined greatly after [[World War II]], and the last regularly scheduled train, the ''[[Lone Star (Amtrak train)|Lone Star]]'', moved its service to Houston's current [[Houston (Amtrak station)|Amtrak station]] on July 31, 1974. With this move, the building became only office space for the HB&T as well as the Missouri Pacific Railroad. On November 10, 1977, the building was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] by the [[National Park Service]].

===Planning and funding===
In August 1995, Astros owner [[Drayton McLane]], then leasing the [[Astrodome]] from [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]], commented to the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' that he was not in the market for a new ballpark. In reference to Pittsburgh's [[Three Rivers Stadium]] and Cincinnati's [[Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati)|Riverfront Stadium]], McLane noted, "... I remember when those were built in the 1970s and those were as good a stadiums as there were. They were the most modern stadiums in the world, and now they're saying they're all bad. That they can't make a go of it without a new stadium. It helps, but there are other things involved."<ref>{{cite news|title=Home Improvement|first=Neil|last=Hohlfield|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 27, 1995|page=17}}</ref>

Later in 1995, Houston's [[National Football League|NFL]] franchise and joint-tenant of the Astrodome, the [[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]], announced they were leaving for [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] in order to have a new stadium built for the team there. Citing a lack of adequate [[luxury box]]es, in October, Astros vice-president Bob McClaren claimed that renovations to the Astrodome would help increase revenue.<ref>{{cite news|title=City Officials Pitch Idea of Ticket Drive to Keep Astros Here|first1=John|last1=Williams|first2=Terry|last2=Blount|first3=Julie|last3=Mason|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 20, 1995|page=1}}</ref>  Drayton McLane pointed toward Astrodome renovations as necessary, saying, "It's 30 years old and not a lot of money has been spent to remodel it."<ref>{{cite news|last1=John Williams|first2=Terry|last2=Blount|first3=Julie|last3=Mason|title=McLane Gives City Two Weeks|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 26, 1995|page=1}}</ref> According to the organization, the team was in danger of being sold to a [[Virginia]] businessman who was expected to move the Astros to the [[Washington D.C.]] area because of poor revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zowie |first=Richard |date=2010-01-14 |title=Drayton McLane and the Future of the Houston Astros' Ownership, Home City |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/326026-future-of-houston-astros-ownership-home-city |access-date=2024-02-01 |work=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

In June 1996, [[University of Houston]] alumnus, [[BMC Software]] and [[San Diego Padres]] owner, [[John J. Moores]], who wanted to own the next NFL franchise in Houston, met with Texas State Senator [[Mario Gallegos Jr.|Mario Gallegos, Jr.]], and other local [[Hispanic]] leaders in regard to the future of a football-only Astrodome and a new baseball-only ballpark in [[downtown Houston]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Hispanics Want Downtown Stadium, Senator Says|first=John|last=Williams|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 4, 1996|page=20}}</ref> Meanwhile, Harris County Judge [[Robert Eckels]] pieced together a plan to build a new ballpark next to the Astrodome in the [[Reliant Park|Astrodomain]]. The Astros echoed the Astrodomain location sentiment because they believed construction time would be shorter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astros Say Eckels Lags on Stadium/Team warns Delay Could Lead to Move|first=John|last=Williams|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 5, 1996|page=25}}</ref> Eckels, who convinced then Mayor [[Bob Lanier (politician)|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."<ref>{{cite news |title=Downtown at Bat/Not All Convinced Dome Area Best for New Baseball Stadium|first=John|last=Williams|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 10, 1996|page=1}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astros Agree to Pick Up Stadium Overrun Costs|first=John|last=Williams|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 30, 1996|page=1}}</ref>

[[File:Minute Maid Park - Crawford Street at Texas Avenue.JPG|thumb|Exterior of Daikin Park at the intersection of Crawford Street and Texas Avenue]]
In August 1996, Houston's Union Station received a US$2 million grant from the [[Texas Department of Transportation|Texas Transportation Commission]] for renovation in a separate project.<ref>{{cite news |title=Renovation Plans to Get Union Station Back on Tracks|first=Dan|last=Feldstein|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 29, 1996|page=36}}</ref> Plans for the new ballpark's location drastically changed by September mostly in response to [[Enron]] Chairman [[Kenneth Lay]]'s input and pledge to substantially contribute to funding if placed downtown.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astros Near Decision to Stay - If Downtown|first=John|last=Williams|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=September 13, 1996|page=1}}</ref> It was at this time where the Union Station location was proposed by Lay. Upon an agreement among all of the leadership entities, the idea of a retractable roof stadium was confirmed for the new ballpark. A November [[referendum]] was planned for Harris County residents to approve the deal.

The Harris County referendum that took place on November 5, 1996, to help fund the ballpark passed by a narrow margin of 51% to 49%.<ref>{{cite news |title=County Stadium Referendum Passes by Narrow Margin|first1=John|last1=Williams|first2=Todd|last2=Ackerman|first3=Eric|last3=Hanson|last4=Mason|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 6, 1996|page=1}}</ref> In response to the referendum, during the [[Seventy-fifth Texas Legislature|75th Texas Legislature]] Texas State Senator [[John Whitmire]] of Houston sponsored a bill supported by five of the six area Harris County senators that would create the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stadium Bill|first=Sarah|last=Hornaday|newspaper=[[Galveston Daily News]]|date=March 6, 1997|page=9}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Texas Senate Review |publisher=Harper Herald |date=June 3, 1997 |page=5}}</ref> It was signed into law by Governor [[George W. Bush]] on June 2, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=HB 92, 75th Regular Session: Actions|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legis/BillSearch/actions.cfm?legSession=75-0&billtypeDetail=HB&billNumberDetail=92&billSuffixDetail=&startRow=1&IDlist=&unClicklist=&number=100|publisher=Legislative Reference Library of Texas|access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref> 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.

In June 1997, with the ability to create a sports authority signed into law, concurrent votes of the Harris County Commissioners' Court and the [[Houston City Council]] to establish the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority on effective September 1, 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=About HCHSA: History|url=http://www.houstonsports.org/about/history|publisher=Harris County-Houston Sports Authority|access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>  Its chairman and 12 other directors were jointly appointed by the [[Mayor of Houston]] and Harris County Judge. The institution remains in existence today.

The ballpark was named "Enron Field" after a $100 million, 30-year naming rights deal was made with Enron on April 7, 1999.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Houston Ballpark Gets Corporate Tag|first=Mark|last=Babineck|newspaper=[[The Brownsville Herald]]|date=April 8, 1999|page=B1}}</ref> After the [[Enron scandal]] of 2001, the Astros and the now-bankrupt Enron came to an agreement to end the deal and rename the stadium in February 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |title=BASEBALL; Astros' Ballpark No Longer Enron Field |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/28/sports/baseball-astros-ballpark-no-longer-enron-field.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=24 January 2022 |date=28 February 2002}}</ref>

===Design and construction===
Early stadium sketches from Kansas City-based HOK Sport (now [[Populous (company)|Populous]]) using the working title "The Ballpark at Union Station" were released to the public on October 11, 1996, where Astros President [[Tal Smith]] was open about his suggestions for the stadium including the location of the flagpole in center field and a traditional dirt path from the [[pitcher's mound]] to [[home plate]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Early stadium sketches unveiled/Astros' Smith helping to create unique, asymmetrical design |author=Williams, John |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=October 12, 1996 |page=29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Ballpark at Union Station |publisher=[[New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung]] |date=October 13, 1996 |page=16}}</ref> 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.

The design of the new park integrated the former Union Station building's main concourse, reutilizing the space for a clubhouse, cafe, team store, and office space.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston's Old Union Station Was Incorporated into Daikin Park |url=https://adaptandreuse.com/houstons-old-union-station-was-incorporated-into-minute-maid-park/ |work=Adapt + Reuse |date=15 May 2020}}</ref> A large model train was also included within the park's design as an homage to the station.

In late 1997, it was announced that local [[KBR (company)|Brown & Root]] would manage construction of the stadium, while Populous with [[Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants|Walter P. Moore]] would design it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deal close on stadium project manager |author=Williams, John |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=December 3, 1997 |page=38}}</ref> The [[Electrification (rail)|electrification]] of the park's [[retractable roof]] was developed by VAHLE, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stadium Systems|url=http://www.vahleinc.com/stadium-systems.html|publisher=VAHLE, Inc.|access-date=April 4, 2013|archive-date=August 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823143521/http://www.vahleinc.com/stadium-systems.html}}</ref>

Groundbreaking for Enron Field was on October 30, 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ground Broken for Astros' New Ballpark |author=Koidin, Michelle |date=October 31, 1997 |publisher=[[Texas City Sun]]}}</ref> Its groundbreaking ceremony was attended by [[Enron]] CEO [[Kenneth Lay]], Houston Mayor [[Bob Lanier (politician)|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]].

Statues of longtime Astros players [[Jeff Bagwell]] and [[Craig Biggio]] are located in the exterior of the ballpark in a plaza area. The two former teammates are depicted playing baseball with each other. The plaza also displays [[Pennant (sports)|pennants]] for all Astros division and league championships, as well as their World Series titles. There are also several plaques to commemorate notable Astros and their achievements.

===Opening and current use===
The ballpark was first inaugurated with a preseason game against the New York Yankees on March 30, 2000, with [[naming rights]] sold to the Houston energy and financial trading company [[Enron]] in a 30-year, $100 million deal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Big Days in Astros History - March 30, 2000 - First game in the new ballpark. |url=https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/20000330/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.astrosdaily.com}}</ref> However, Astros management faced a public relations problem when the energy corporation went bankrupt in 2001 due to a [[Enron scandal|financial scandal]]. Quickly wanting to distance themselves from Enron, Astros ownership asked to prematurely end naming rights, but Enron refused.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Striking Out Enron|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/02/05/astros_enron_ap|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020207235517/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/02/05/astros_enron_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2002|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=February 5, 2002|access-date=June 22, 2014}}</ref> On February 5, 2002, Astros ownership filed a motion with the court overseeing the company's bankruptcy to force Enron to make an immediate decision on the matter. By February 27, the two entities agreed to end the naming rights, and settled with the Astros paying $2.1 million to Enron. Without a naming rights agreement in place, the ballpark became officially known as "Astros Field".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Astros Strike Out Enron|first=Chris|last=Isidore|url=https://money.cnn.com/2002/02/27/companies/enron_astros|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=February 27, 2002|access-date=June 22, 2014}}</ref>

The Astros sold naming rights of the ballpark in 2002 to locally based [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] subsidiary [[Minute Maid]] for $100 million over 30 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Juicy New Name for Enron Stadium|first=David|last=Schepp|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2027849.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|date=June 5, 2002|access-date=June 22, 2014}}</ref> Its official name was then changed to "Minute Maid Park".

On January 1, 2025, the stadium was renamed to '''Daikin Park''' after Japanese conglomerate [[Daikin]], who owns [[Waller, Texas|Waller]]-based air conditioning manufacturer [[Goodman Global]], agreed to acquire the stadium's naming rights. The agreement is seen to run through 2039.<ref>{{cite news|last=McTaggart|first=Brian|title=Astros' stadium is now Daikin Park after new naming rights deal|url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-daikin-agree-to-naming-rights-deal|work=MLB.com|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=November 18, 2024}}</ref>

===Alterations===
In 2004, the Astros launched [[Wi-Fi]] throughout the ballpark, allowing fans to use the Internet while attending a game for a fee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minute Maid Park goes Wi-Fi|url=http://broadcastengineering.com/newsrooms/cisco-wi-fi-20040924/|work=Broadcast Engineering|date=September 24, 2004|access-date=April 4, 2013}}</ref> In addition, the ballpark was the first major sports facility to use a separate video board exclusively for [[closed captioning]] for the hearing impaired of PA system and video board content, rather than appearing along the bottom of the main board.

[[File:Minute Maid Park 2010.JPG|thumb|The ballpark in 2010, prior to its 2011 right field alterations]]
In 2006, the [[Chick-fil-A]] cows were unveiled on the foul poles, saying EAT MOR FOWL, and the cows have Astros caps on. If an Astros player hits the pole, all fans in attendance get a coupon for a free chicken sandwich from [[Chick-fil-A]]. [[Hunter Pence]] is the first and second Astros player to ever hit the left field "Fowl Pole" when he did it twice in the 2007 season. [[Ty Wigginton]] became the third Astro to hit the left field pole on September 16, 2007. [[Kazuo Matsui]] hit the right field foul pole on August 3, 2009, with a two-run homer in the sixth inning to beat the [[San Francisco Giants|Giants]]. [[Carlos Lee]] hit the left field pole on July 28, 2010, giving the Astros an 8–1 win against the [[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]]. Two days later, [[Jeff Keppinger]] hit the left field pole to help the Astros win, 5–0, against the [[Milwaukee Brewers|Brewers]]. In the 2023 Major League Baseball postseason (October 7th, 2023), [[Yordan Alvarez]] hit a solo home run to the right field pole which made the game 6-4.

After the 2008 season, the Astros' groundskeepers began installing {{convert|2.3|acre|m2}} of a new turfgrass playing surface at Minute Maid Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Astros First to Use New Turfgrass Surface|first=Nick|last=Zaccardi|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081208&content_id=3706448&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210003600/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081208&content_id=3706448&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 10, 2008|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]] |date=December 8, 2008|access-date=December 8, 2008}}</ref> The Astros also became one of the first to use the new [[Chemgrass]], later known as AstroTurf after its first well-publicized use at the Houston Astrodome in 1966.

In honor of longtime Astros broadcaster [[Milo Hamilton]], the City of Houston officially renamed a portion of the Ballpark District to the "Hall of Fame District", and the portion of Hamilton Avenue that runs within that district to "Milo Hamilton Way" on April 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milo Hamilton Way Unveiled in Houston|first=Alyson|last=Footer|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090408&content_id=4170044&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou&fext=.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301012927/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090408&content_id=4170044&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 1, 2012|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]] |date=April 8, 2009|access-date=June 23, 2014}}</ref>

For the 2011 season, the park added a large [[Daktronics]] HD screen nicknamed "El Grande" replacing the original one in right field. At {{convert|54|ft}} high and {{convert|124|ft}} wide, it is the fourth largest scoreboard in Major League Baseball, behind [[T-Mobile Park]] (home of the [[Seattle Mariners]]), [[Progressive Field]] (home of the [[Cleveland Guardians]]), and [[Kaufmann Stadium]] (home of the [[Kansas City Royals]]). The old screen was taken out and replaced by billboards. Additionally, a smaller HD screen was added on the far left field wall. The ring of advertisement screens around the park were replaced in favor of HD ribbon boards.<ref name="2011 changes"/>

After the Astros reverted to their original colors and logo in 2013, much of Minute Maid Park was repainted to navy and orange from brick red. Signs with the previous logo and colors were also replaced.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130328&content_id=43450562&c_id=hou |title=Minute Maid Park gets fresh makeover |author=Footer, Alyson |work=[[MLB.com]] |date=March 29, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2014}}</ref> More than {{convert|4500|USgal|L}} of paint were used and over 1,000 signs were replaced.

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.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/128585692/astros-announce-exciting-new-concepts-for-minute-maid-park/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607011256/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/128585692/astros-announce-exciting-new-concepts-for-minute-maid-park |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2015 |title=Astros announce exciting new concepts for Minute Maid Park |date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> This would result in center field dimensions of 436&nbsp;feet (then the longest in MLB) being reduced to 409&nbsp;feet. In addition, seating sections 256, 257, and 258 in the outfield mezzanine would be removed. However, the project had to be postponed due to the Astros' unexpected American League Wild Card championship and subsequent postseason appearance, along with the stadium's offseason event schedule.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/houston-astros-minute-maid-park-tals-hill-renovations-delayed-postponed-2016-101515 |title=Tal's Hill lives! Astros delay scheduled Minute Maid Park renovations |work=[[FOX Sports]] |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> The renovation was completed during the 2016-2017 offseason. The flagpoles became out of play.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-break-ground-on-removal-of-Tal-s-Hill-9960844.php |title=Astros break ground on removal of Tal's Hill |author=Young, Matt |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016}}</ref>

In April 2022, Daikin Park, then Minute Maid Park, received [[Amazon (company)|Amazon's]] "Just Walk Out" technology for two of its concession stands, becoming the first MLB stadium to incorporate [[cashierless store]]s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fingas |first1=Jon |title=Houston Astros' stadium will be the first in MLB to use Amazon's 'Just Walk Out' tech |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/houston-astros-amazon-just-walk-out-shopping-152141941.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |date=13 April 2022}}</ref>

===Major events===
* On October 9, 2005, Minute Maid Park hosted the then-longest postseason game in [[Major League Baseball]] history, both in terms of time and number of innings. The Astros defeated the [[Atlanta Braves]] 7–6 in a game lasting 18 innings, which took 5 hours and 50 minutes to play.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Win Like No Other|first=Jose De Jesus|last=Ortiz|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3389330.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 10, 2005|access-date=October 10, 2005}}</ref> The time record was beaten by Game 3 of the [[2018 World Series]], which went 18 innings and lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes. 
* On October 25, 2005, Minute Maid Park hosted the first [[2005 World Series|World Series]] game ever played in Texas, and the longest World Series game ever played, which the Astros lost to the eventual World Series champion [[Chicago White Sox]] 7–5 in 14 innings; this game lasted 5 hours and 41 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astros Lose Heartbreaker at Bitter End|first=Jose de Jesus|last=Ortiz|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/3416778.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 26, 2005|access-date=October 26, 2005}}</ref> The following night, the White Sox won their third title—and first in [[1917 World Series|88 years]]—at Minute Maid Park.
* On September 30, 2007, in [[Craig Biggio]]'s last game of his career, Minute Maid Park hit the highest attendance in its 8-year history by selling 43,823 tickets, 107% of its capacity.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biggio Goes Out in Style As Astros Win|first=Jose de Jesus|last=Ortiz|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Biggio-goes-out-in-style-as-Astros-win-1805915.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=September 30, 2007|access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref>
* On April 5, 2010, Opening Day of 2010, Minute Maid Park surpassed its highest attendance total once again by selling 43,836 tickets, 13 more tickets than its previous record.<ref name="opening day 2010">{{cite news |title=Astros Seeking to Fight Off Decline in Attendance|first=Bernardo|last=Fallas|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-seeking-to-fight-off-decline-in-attendance-1712066.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=April 20, 2010|access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref>
* The Astros transferred to the American League for the 2013 season, resulting in the [[designated hitter]] rule coming into effect at Minute Maid Park. The last pitcher to bat at an MLB game in Houston was Astros pitcher [[Bud Norris]] until May 11, 2021, when [[Shohei Ohtani]] of the Los Angeles Angels started on the mound and batted second in the lineup.
* In his third start as an Astro, pitcher [[Mike Fiers]] threw the stadium's first [[no-hitter]] in a 3&ndash;0 victory over the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] on August 21, 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astros' Mike Fiers tosses first no-hitter in Minute Maid Park history against Dodgers|first=Jose de Jesus|last=Ortiz|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2015/08/21/astros-mike-fiers-tosses-first-no-hitter-in-minute-maid-park-history-against-dodgers/#35095101=0&35096103=0|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 21, 2015|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref>
* In late October 2017 the Astros hosted three [[2017 World Series|World Series]] games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros would go on to win the 2017 World Series, winning 2 of 3 games in Houston and 2 of 4 games in Los Angeles.
* In late October 2019, the Astros hosted four games of the [[2019 World Series|World Series]] versus the [[Washington Nationals]]. While the Astros won all three away games, they lost all four games played at Minute Maid Park.
* It was one of two hosts ([[Globe Life Field]] being the other) for the [[2020 NLDS]]. [[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta]] swept [[Miami Marlins|Miami]] 3–0 to advance to the NLCS.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/World-Series-at-Arlington-first-time-at-one-site-15568947.php | title=MLB to host World Series in Arlington, Minute Maid gets NLDS | newspaper=Houston Chronicle | date=September 15, 2020 | last1=Barron | first1=David }}</ref>
* Three games of the [[2021 World Series]] were held at Minute Maid Park, with the Braves winning Games 1 and 6 (they also won Games 3 and 4 at [[Truist Park]] in Atlanta) to claim their fourth World Series championship. Houston's only home victory came in Game 2.
* Games 1, 2 and 6 of the [[2022 World Series]] were held at Minute Maid Park. The Astros won their second World Series championship in Game 6, marking the third time a World Series championship was hoisted at the park and the first time the Astros won on their home field. Houston also won Game 2, as well as two of three games at [[Citizens Bank Park]] against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]].
* Pool B and the quarterfinals of the [[2026 World Baseball Classic]] will take place at the stadium.

==Non-baseball events==

===Soccer===
While primarily a baseball venue, Daikin Park can adequately host sports such as [[Football (soccer)|soccer]] and both codes of [[Rugby football|rugby]]. The venue can also play host to large-scale music concerts. It is not large enough to comfortably accommodate [[American football]]. However, the opening of [[BBVA Compass Stadium]] four blocks southeast on Texas Avenue for [[Major League Soccer|MLS]]'s [[Houston Dynamo]] in 2012 has effectively made its use for future soccer games moot.

Its debut as a soccer venue happened during the [[CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2006|2006 edition of the CONCACAF Champions Cup]]. The stadium hosted the first leg of the quarterfinal between [[Portmore United]] of [[Jamaica]] (the "home" team) and [[Club América]] of Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|title=Club América Finds Its Footing in Win / Mexican Team Produces Goals to Rally Past Portmore United|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2006_4067440/club-am-rica-finds-its-footing-in-win-mexican-team.html|first=Bernardo|last=Fallas|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=February 23, 2006|access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:95%;" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="text-align:center; {{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"|Date
!style="text-align:center; {{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"|Winning team
!style="text-align:center; {{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"|Result
!style="text-align:center; {{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"|Losing team
!style="text-align:center; {{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"|Tournament
!style="text-align:center; {{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"|Spectators
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|February 22, 2006||'''{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Club América]]'''||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||'''{{flagicon|Jamaica}} [[Portmore United]]'''||style="text-align:center;"|[[2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup]] Quarterfinal||style="text-align:center;"|12,988
|}

===Professional wrestling===
Minute Maid Park hosted the [[Royal Rumble (2020)|2020 Royal Rumble]] on January 26, one of the promotion's four annual flagship [[professional wrestling]] events. This was the first time it has hosted a [[WWE]] pay-per-view event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barron |first1=David |date=February 16, 2019 |title=WWE's Royal Rumble coming to Minute Maid Park in 2020 |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/article/WWE-Royal-Rumble-in-Houston-Minute-Maid-Park-2020-13620766.php |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=Houston Chronicle}}</ref>

===Concerts===
[[Paul McCartney]], [[RBD]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Taylor Swift]], [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Bad Bunny]], [[Lady Gaga]] and [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] have all performed at Daikin Park.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! width=12% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Date
! width=12% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Artist
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Opening act(s)
! width=16% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Tour / concert name
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Attendance
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Revenue
! width=18% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Houston Astros|border=2}};"| Notes
|-
| April 21, 2007 || [[Jimmy Buffett]] || [[Robert Earl Keen]] || Bama Breeze Tour || — || — || [[Sonny Landreth]] was a guest. [[Michael Utley]] was not at the show due to minor surgery. [[Mac McAnally]] filled in on keyboards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buffettworld.com/archives/2007-bama-breeze/04-21/|title=Saturday, April 21st, 2007 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park » Jimmy Buffett World|website=www.buffettworld.com|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> 
|-
| November 16, 2008 || [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] || [[Paul Oakenfold]] || [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]] || 41,498 / 41,498 || $5,170,100 ||
|-
| November 5, 2011 || [[Taylor Swift]] || [[Needtobreathe]]<br />[[David Nail]]<br />[[Adam Brand (musician)|Adam Brand]] || [[Speak Now World Tour]] || 42,095 / 42,095 || $3,435,756 || [[Nelly]] was the special guest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taylortalk.org/taylor-swift-speak-now-guest-performances/ |title=Speak Now World Tour Guests |work=taylortalk.org |access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| November 14, 2012 || [[Paul McCartney]] || DJ Chris || [[On the Run (Paul McCartney)|On the Run Tour]] || 38,036 / 38,036 || $4,478,038 ||
|-
| July 18, 2014 || [[Beyoncé]]<br />[[Jay-Z]] || — || [[On the Run Tour (Beyoncé and Jay-Z)|On the Run Tour]] || 40,103 / 40,103 || $5,235,438 ||
|-
| September 9, 2015 || [[Taylor Swift]] || [[Vance Joy]]<br />[[Shawn Mendes]] || [[The 1989 World Tour]] || 40,122 / 40,122 || $5,202,196 || Originally planned to take place on October 13, but was moved backwards to avoid any potential scheduling conflict with the [[Houston Astros]] potentially making the [[2015 MLB season|2015]] [[Major League Baseball postseason]].<ref name="Astros">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/astros-playoff-chances-force-taylor-swift-to-reschedule-minute-maid-park-gig-072715|title=Astros' playoff chances force Taylor Swift to reschedule Minute Maid Park gig|work=Fox Sports|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> [[Wiz Khalifa]] was the special guest.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Li|first=Shirley|title=Taylor Swift performs 'See You Again' with Wiz Khalifa on 1989 tour|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/10/taylor-swift-wiz-khalifa-see-you-again-1989-tour|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 10, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|June 15, 2018 || The Eagles || [[Chris Stapleton]] || North American Tour 2018 || — || — || 
|-
| November 3, 2018 || [[Ed Sheeran]] || [[Snow Patrol]]<br />[[Lauv]] || [[÷ Tour]] || 39,354 / 39,354 || $3,985,595 || 
|-
| July 29, 2021 || [[Green Day]]<br />[[Fall Out Boy]]<br />[[Weezer]] || [[The Interrupters (band)|The Interrupters]] || [[Hella Mega Tour]] || 31,182 / 36,785 || $2,852,741 || 
|-
| August 19, 2022 || [[Def Leppard]]<br />[[Mötley Crüe]] || [[Poison (band)|Poison]]<br />[[Joan Jett]]<br />[[Classless Act]] || [[The Stadium Tour]] || 39,247 / 39,247 || $5,435,060 || 
|-
| September 1, 2022 || rowspan=2|[[Bad Bunny]] || rowspan=2|[[Alesso]] || rowspan=2|[[World's Hottest Tour]] || rowspan=2|83,518 / 83,518 || rowspan="2" |$19,557,149 || rowspan="2" |
|-
| September 2, 2022
|-
| September 13, 2022 || [[Lady Gaga]] || — || [[The Chromatica Ball]] || 33,779 / 33,779 || $4,004,039 ||
|-
| September 23, 2022 || [[Billy Joel]] || — || [[Billy Joel In Concert]] || — || — ||
|-
| May 25, 2023 || [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] || [[The Strokes]]<br />[[Thundercat (musician)|Thundercat]] || [[Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022 Global Stadium Tour|Global Stadium Tour]] || — || — ||
|-
| June 24, 2023 || [[Romeo Santos]] || — || [[Fórmula, Vol. 3: La Gira]] || — || — ||
|-
| August 27, 2023 || [[RBD]] || — || [[Soy Rebelde Tour]] || 41,100 / 41,100 || $9,991,784 ||
|-
| September 27, 2023 || [[Pink (singer)|P!nk]] || [[Grouplove]]<br />KidCutUp<br />[[Brandi Carlile]] || [[Summer Carnival (tour)|Summer Carnival]] || — || — ||
|-
|September 28, 2023 || [[Guns N' Roses]] || [[Alice in Chains|Alice In Chains]] || [[Guns N' Roses 2023 Tour]] || — || — || 
|-
| November 18, 2023 || [[Morgan Wallen]] || [[Hardy (singer)|Hardy]]<br />[[Ernest (musician)|Ernest]]<br />[[Bailey Zimmerman]] || One Night At A Time World Tour || — || — || Rescheduled from May 26, 2023 for health reasons. 
|-
| August 14, 2024 || [[Def Leppard]]<br>[[Journey (band)|Journey]] || [[Steve Miller Band]] || The Summer Stadium Tour || — || — || 
|-
| August 24, 2024 || Chris Stapleton || [[Miranda Lambert]]<br />[[Grace Potter]] || [[Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show Tour]] || — || — || 
|-
|September 8, 2025
|[[Chris Brown]]
|[[Summer Walker]]<br>[[Bryson Tiller]]
|Breezy Bowl XX Tour
|
|
|
|-
|}

===TV===
The nationally syndicated TV talk show ''[[Rachael Ray (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. Comedian [[Jeffrey Ross]] served as best man for all 40 couples. The ceremony was aired as part of a special episode of the talk show on November 21, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rachael Ray Holds Mass Wedding in Houston|first=Jemimah|last=Noonoo|url=http://www.chron.com/news/hurricanes/article/Rachael-Ray-holds-mass-wedding-in-Houston-1752625.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 3, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref>

===Other events===
[[File:SB51 Opening Night.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|ESPN's Sal Paolantonio talking to Tom Brady and Matt Ryan at Super Bowl LI Opening Night]] 
The stadium also is the host of the [[Houston College Classic]] [[college baseball]] tournament, part of the winter fan festival held in February. The tournament features local schools the [[University of Houston]] and [[Rice University]] every year, a pair of major conference schools, alternating between Big 12 members [[University of Texas at Austin]], [[Texas Tech University]], [[Baylor University]] and SEC member [[Texas A&M University]], as well as two other teams from around the country.

On May 9, 2015, [[Canelo Alvarez]] fought [[James Kirkland (boxer)|James Kirkland]] in [[Canelo Álvarez vs. James Kirkland|the first boxing match]] fought in the stadium. Alvarez defeated Kirkland via knockout in the third round.

The [[University of Houston–Downtown]] also holds their commencement ceremony in Daikin Park.<ref>[http://www.uhd.edu/registrar/commencement/index.html Commencement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420160615/http://www.uhd.edu/registrar/commencement/index.html |date=2015-04-20 }} from [[University of Houston–Downtown]], retrieved 14 May 2015</ref>

Minute Maid Park hosted a [[cricket]] match on November 11, 2015, the second in a series of three [[Cricket All-Stars Series 2015|Cricket All-Stars]] matches played by retired greats of the game.<ref>{{cite web|title=USA All-Stars tour gaining momentum|url=http://www.cricket.com.au/news/shane-warne-ricky-ponting-sachin-tendulkar-cricket-all-stars-usa-america/2015-10-23|publisher=cricket.com.au|access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref> [[Shane Warne|Shane Warne's]] [[Warne's Warriors]] clinched the series 2–0. Keeping with the naming conventions from the previous match at Minute Maid Park, the ends were named after [[Nolan Ryan]] and [[José Cruz]], two players that have their numbers retired by the Astros.

On January 30, 2017, the stadium hosted ''Super Bowl Opening Night'' for [[Super Bowl LI]] at nearby [[NRG Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Super-Bowl-LI-Opening-Night-at-Minute-Maid-on-10620658.php|title=Super Bowl LI "Opening Night" at Minute Maid on Jan. 30|last=Barron|first=David|date=2016-11-17|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref>

From 2017 until 2020, the park hosted the final rounds of the Houston leg of the [[FIRST Championship]]. To avoid damaging the field while the Astros were in season, the competition fields were built on a stage over the infield dirt between first and third base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmbjykLZ-YA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xmbjykLZ-YA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=FIRST Robotics Competition Worlds 2017 @ Minute Maid Park Houston TX Energy Institute High School|last=Felipe Aguirre|date=22 April 2017|access-date=8 November 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Features==
=== Tal's Hill ===
[[File:Minute Maid Park flag pole configuration.jpg|thumb|Tal's Hill and the flagpole]]
Until 2017, center field featured a {{convert|90|ft|m|adj=on}} wide incline called Tal's Hill, named for former team president [[Tal Smith]].<ref name=ts>{{cite news|last=Atkins|first=Hunter |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Tal-s-Hill-home-to-a-generation-of-thrills-and-9291093.php |title=Tal's Hill, home to a generation of thrills and chills, makes its final stand |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 27, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimpagels/2016/08/06/death-of-houstons-tals-hill-continues-demise-of-baseballs-on-field-oddities/#71934d2d3373|title=Death of Houston's Tal's Hill Continues Demise Of Baseball's On-Field Oddities |last=Pagels |first=Jim|website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref> The incline was inspired by similar features that used to exist at [[Crosley Field]] and [[Fenway Park]]. There was a flagpole in play on the incline, an element inspired by [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] before its remodeling in the mid-'70s, and [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]] as well. Milwaukee Brewers player [[Richie Sexson]] once hit a ball off the flagpole. There was a mark there until the 2011 season, when the pole was repainted. The hill and the flagpole were scheduled to be removed following the 2015 season,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13012529/houston-astros-get-rid-tal-hill-flagpole-2015-season|title=Level playing field: Astros to get rid of Tal's Hill|date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref> but remained in place due to an unexpected playoff run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13896910/tal-hill-remain-houston-astros-park-2016-season|title=Too 'Tal' a task? Astros delay removal of CF Hill|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref>

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. 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. The center field fence was to be moved in from {{convert|436|ft|m}} (which from 2000 to 2016 was the longest in baseball) to {{convert|409|ft|m}} from home plate, but the center field renovations were delayed until after the 2016 season, due at least in part to the 2015 playoffs cutting into planned construction time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2015/10/15/astros-delay-renovations-to-minute-maid-tals-hill-lives-another-year/|title=Astros delay renovations to Minute Maid; Tal's Hill lives another year|work=Ultimate Astros|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=2016-04-04}}</ref>

=== Union Station ===
[[File:Minute Maid Park train, exterior view.jpg|thumb|right|Daikin Park's [[4-4-0]] locomotive is visible from the exterior of the ballpark.]]
The largest entrance to the park is inside what was once Houston's [[Union Station (Houston)|Union Station]], and the left-field side of the stadium features a railway as homage to the site's history. The train moves along an {{convert|800|ft|adj=on}} 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. It is driven by Bobby Vásquez, who goes by the name Bobby Dynamite. The train is an upscaled replica of the ''[[The General (locomotive)|General]]'' 4-4-0 and is pulled by a cable which is operated by the driver.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21022487/riding-iconic-train-minute-maid-park|title='A few steps from the top of the world': Riding the iconic train at Minute Maid Park|first=Scott|last=Lauber|date=October 14, 2017|access-date=October 14, 2017|work=ESPN}}</ref> The engine's tender used to be filled with giant oranges in reference to Minute Maid's most famous product, orange juice, but now features giant baseballs<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/sports/2025/03/28/517115/houston-astros-train-unveiled-baseballs-daikin-park/|title=Houston Astros train cargo unveiled as oranges are gone and baseballs fill refreshed locomotive at Daikin Park|first=Mark|last=Norris|date=March 28, 2025|access-date=July 8, 2025|work=Houston Public Media}}</ref> when Daikin's naming rights started in 2025. Prior to Minute Maid buying the stadium's naming rights, the tender was filled with logs. 

In a challenge to home run hitters, former Astros owner [[Drayton McLane, Jr.|Drayton McLane]]'s office window, located in the old Union Station and directly above the Crawford Boxes, is made of glass and a sign below the window is marked {{convert|422|ft|m|abbr=on}} from home plate.

===Crawford Boxes===
{{multiple image
 | width = 250
 | image1 = Crawford boxes.jpg
 | alt1 = Crawford Boxes, 2006
 | image2 = MinuteMaid2021.png
 | alt2 = Crawford Boxes, 2021
 | footer = View of Crawford Boxes in its original incarnation in 2006 (left) and from renovations done in the 2010s (2021). Division pennants were moved higher up around the park while world and league championship pennants fly right above the Crawford Boxes. The foul pole was also decorated with a promotional deal with [[Chick-fil-A]] to go along with other promotions involving community leaders.
}}
The '''Crawford Boxes''' are a section of seating in Daikin Park running parallel to Crawford Street in downtown [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas. They are located in left field and span sections 100 through 104 (with all but the latter in fair territory).

The home-plate-to-fence measurement there is only {{convert|315|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}, one of the shortest in [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lopez|first1=John P.|title=Crawford Boxes no laughing matter|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Crawford-Boxes-no-laughing-matter-2023136.php|access-date=30 October 2017|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=26 July 2001}}</ref> Home runs must clear a 19-foot wall in front of the elevated boxes which houses the hand-operated out-of-town scoreboard, displaying the day's other games.

[[Landry's Restaurants, Inc.|Landry's]], a restaurant group, had bought the naming rights to the Crawford Boxes in 2003, which ran various promotions for its restaurants there.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Greer|first1=Jim|title=Seafood chain turns up the juice for naming rights to ballpark seats|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2003/04/14/newscolumn2.html|access-date=30 October 2017|work=[[Houston Business Journal]]|date=13 April 2003}}</ref>

===Other features===
{{multiple image
 | width = 135
 | image1 = BagwellStatue.png
 | alt1 = Statue of Jeff Bagwell
 | image2 = BiggioStatue.png
 | alt2 = Statue of Craig Biggio
 | footer = Statues of Jeff Bagwell (left) and Craig Biggio (right) are located near the front of Daikin Park.
}}
Games are typically played with the roof open only in April and May before the Houston summer heat arrives. In the first twenty seasons of the park (2000-2019), the Astros played 1,614 games at home and played with the roof closed for the whole game for 1,103 of them (for the 2017-2019 postseason games alone, they played all home games with the roof closed).<ref>[https://www.mlb.com/news/minute-maid-park-roof-history Open or shut? Minute Maid Park roof rules]</ref>

[[File:Union Station Lobby at Minute Maid Park-no banners.jpg|thumb|right|Union Station Lobby is the main entrance to Daikin Park, and the former concourse of Houston's original Union Station built in 1911.]]

There is a manually operated out-of-town scoreboard in left, below the Crawford Boxes.

The ballpark features 19,201 seats on the lower level,<ref name="facts">{{cite web |title=Minute Maid Park Facts and Figures |url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=facts_figures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229201922/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=facts_figures|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2010|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|access-date=April 4, 2013}}</ref> 7,132 seats on the second level,<ref name="facts"/> 880 seats on the suite level,<ref name="facts"/> and 13,750 seats on the upper level.<ref name="facts"/>

[[File:Phillips 66 Home Run Pump.jpg|thumb|The [[Phillips 66]] Home Run Pump]]
The "[[Phillips 66]] Home Run Porch" is located in left-center field over the field of play. It features a classic gasoline pump that displays the total number of Astros home runs hit since the park opened.

The stadium can be fully air-conditioned when required.

=== Ground rules ===
Under the stadium's [[ground rules]] at the time, both Tal's Hill and the flagpole were considered in play. If a ball hit the flagpole on the hill and stayed in the field of play, it was in play. If it went out of the field of play (over the fence), it was a [[home run]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Liotta |first=Paul |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/8-baseball-stadiun-quirks-article-1.2406002 |title=8 baseball stadium quirks |work=New York Daily News |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> The Hill was criticized numerous times owing to the incline having the potential to cause injury to fielders unused to it.<ref name=fox>{{cite web|first=Shawn |last=Ramsey |url=http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/astros-removing-tal-s-hill-at-minute-maid-park-060415 |title=Astros removing Tal's Hill at Minute Maid Park |work=FOX Sports |date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> However, there was never an injury to any player in relation to Tal's Hill.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brisbee |first=Grant |url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/6/5/8732945/astros-minute-maid-park-tals-hill-removed |title=The hill in the Astros' ballpark was awful, and I'll miss it |publisher=SBNation |date=June 5, 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

==Transportation access==
Daikin Park is located in Downtown Houston in a centralized area of the city, and accessible via a short driving distance on [[Interstate 10 (Texas)|Interstate 10]] (Katy Freeway/East Freeway), [[Interstate 69 in Texas|Interstate 69]] (Southwest Freeway/Eastex Freeway), and [[Interstate 45]] (Gulf Freeway/North Freeway). Street parking, garage parking, and private lot parking are available, with an estimated 25,000 spots within walking distance to the ballpark. Taxi cabs and [[pedicab]]s are also commonly found near the surrounding ballpark area.

Public transportation allows for accessibility via bus or [[light rail]] service. The [[METRORail]] [[light rail]] system has a station located one block south of Daikin Park, [[Convention District (METRORail station)|Convention District Station]], served by the [[METRORail Green Line|Green]] and [[METRORail Purple Line|Purple]] lines. The [[METRORail Red Line|Red Line]] also serves the ballpark at [[Preston (METRORail station)|Preston Station]], six blocks to the west.

==Hurricane Harvey==
In 2017, the park and the entire city suffered from the devastation of [[Hurricane Harvey]], which flooded many parts of the city with several feet of rain over four days. 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. The lingering effects of Harvey forced the [[Houston Astros|Astros]] to move their series against the Texas Rangers to [[Tropicana Field]] in St. Petersburg, Florida.<ref name="GoodCondition">{{cite news|title=Astros' Reid Ryan: Minute Maid Park in good condition |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-Reid-Ryan-Minute-Maid-Park-good-condition-12113664.php| author1=Kaplan, Jake |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=28 August 2017}}</ref> The Astros returned to Houston on Friday, September 1 to help the initial recovery efforts. 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]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311003748/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/facts_figures.jsp Minute Maid Park: Facts and Figures]. Accessed May 24, 2006.
* [http://ballparkdigest.com/200904061701/major-league-baseball/visits/minute-maid-park-houston-astros Ballpark Digest Visit to Minute Maid Park]
* {{cite news |title=Dangers of the diamond: TSN picks the nine biggest ballpark obstacles—from the brightest lights to the most unusual landscaping—in the majors - Baseball|first=Jeff|last=Ryan|date=July 21, 2003|work=[[The Sporting News]]|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_29_227/ai_105556749|access-date=February 28, 2007}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Daikin Park}}
{{Portal|Texas|Baseball}}
* [https://www.mlb.com/astros/ballpark/ Stadium site on MLB.com]
* [http://seatingchartview.com/minute-maid-park/ Minute Maid Park Seating Chart]
* Levine, Zachary. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/7236704.html Astros looking at the bigger picture]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. October 8, 2010.<!--About renovation of MMP-->
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311003748/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/facts_figures.jsp Minute Maid Park facts and figures]
*[http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/national/houston.html Baseball Pilgrimages]
*[http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/MinuteMaidPark.htm Ballparks of Baseball]

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{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Houston Astros]]
 | years = 2000–present
 | before = [[Astrodome]]
 | after = Current
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{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br />[[2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]
 | years = 2004
 | before = [[U.S. Cellular Field]]
 | after = [[Comerica Park]]
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{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br />[[Civil Rights Game]]
 | years = 2014
 | before = [[U.S. Cellular Field]]
 | after = [[Dodger Stadium]]
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{{s-end}}
{{Houston Astros}}
{{Downtown Houston}}
{{MLB Ballparks}}

[[Category:Houston Astros stadiums]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball venues]]
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[[Category:Daikin]]