Minute Maid Park
History-inspired venue with innovative roof
Project Facts
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Owner | Houston Harris County Sports Authority |
| Capacity | 42,000 seats |
Overview
The Houston Astros’ home ballpark pays homage to the city’s vibrant railroad heritage. Though the train motif adds a touch of mystique, it’s the award-winning retractable roof that steals the spotlight. This remarkable feature, capable of closing in just 12 minutes, ensures fan comfort and facilitates the maintenance of a top-tier natural grass field, optimizing playing conditions for an exceptional baseball experience.
Services
About the project
Minute Maid Park established a new worldwide standard for modern retractable-roof ballpark design with regards to economy and delivery schedule, opening under budget and on time for the 2000 season, a rarity among retractable roof ballparks before Walter P Moore designed this, their first. The venue provided an intimate natural grass home venue for the American League Houston (originally National) and hosted the 2004 Major League All-Star game to rave reviews.
The ballpark’s 580-ft-span retractable roof allows the Astros to play outdoors on nice days but also protects fans from rain, humidity, and oppressive heat during the dog days of Houston’s summer. A 115-ft-tall moving-glass left field wall opens to create one of the major league’s most open retractable roof ballparks.
Walter P Moore also provided all the project’s civil engineering, traffic engineering, and parking, which became a keystone in redeveloping a robust and vibrant downtown environment.
The first-ever retractable roof of an MLB stadium, Minute Maid Park, also marked the first of six retractable roofs structurally designed by Walter P Moore.
