Houston Astros

#23 - August  16th, 2015. Downtown Houston is chaotic. Known fact that I learned about Houston is that there is no property zoning, this can mean, for example, that you can put a single family home directly across the street from Minute Maid park...The park was in a moderately nice part of downtown (which ain't saying much), walking up to the stadium you almost just think it's a warehouse or something. Buzz around the ball park? Mostly just drifters...Honestly you kinda just want to get inside as quickly as possible. Once inside you have smaller concourse all the way around which was kind of off putting at first, but it actually kind of works for them. The roof was thankfully closed, as I get the impression it is most games, but the windows allowed in a lot of natural light, more than any other indoor park I've been to. Outfield has the columns below the train which was a nice standing room only locale. They had a non-field facing bar in dead center called the Five-Seven for Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. 

We sat first row in dead center. We wanted to get a view of Tal's Hill as they're ripping it out next year for a renovation. It was cool, but far less of a 'thing' than I expected. I thought it would be more of a staple in the Astros culture or something. T-Shirts, highlight reels, etc. But know one really cared at all, so I guess I don't either...Stros played the Tigers, lost in 11 innings. Collin McHugh v Justin Verlander, much of a pitchers duel throughout. The place was pretty full as it was a Saturday night and they were doing the 10 year anniversary of the 05 team that made the World Series. So Bags, Biggio, Oswalt, Berkman, and that whole crew were in the house. Even as full as it was the fans didn't seem super into the game, which is odd as they were in first place at the time, but they all seemed quite happy to have the Astros and something to do in Houston like go to an indoor baseball game. Overall there is nothing great nor terrible about this park. It's a nice quaint little park. Built in 2000, I think they made a lot of the right design choices that make it a very acceptable ballpark 15 years later...Grade: B