Bank One Stadium

Located in Houston , Texas , Minute Maid Park was Houston 's first retractable-roofed stadium. After playing at the Reliant Astrodome for three decades, in 1995, the Astros threatened the officials to move to northern Virginia . On May 20, 1996 , a delegate task force suggested that Houston and Harris County spend $625 million to build a new baseball stadium and a new downtown basketball arena, and refurbish the Astrodome for football and the rodeo. Eventually, in November 1996, voters approved a referendum to construct a new ballpark in downtown Houston in order to keep the team in Houston . Built on 25 acres of land in downtown Houston at the cost of $250 million, construction began on October 30, 1997 . A jewel in the crown of the majestic downtown Houston skyline, Minute Maid Park was inaugurated on March 30, 2000, when Houston Astros and New York Yankees played an exhibition. In the first official regular-season game, the Astros hosted the Philadelphia Phillies on April 7, 2000 , with Philadelphia winning by 4-1.

In 2004, the stadium played a host to the Major League Baseball All Star Game. On October 4, 2001 , Barry Bonds blasted his 70th homerun. The ballpark was constructed with concrete and steel structures, and the facade consists of brick and limestone. The 1911-vintage Union Station forms the ballpark's main entrance. One side of the stadium features a replica of a 19th century locomotive as homage to the site's history. The train provides an architectural icon, which combines sight, sound and motion for a dynamic entertainment and celebration feature. Weighing close to 50,000 pounds, the train runs along some 800 feet along the low roof track on the west side of the ballpark and moves along a track on top of the length of the exterior wall beyond left field whenever an Astro player hits a home run. The playing field features natural grass.

It is quite difficult to hit a ball out in center field, though fielding is quite difficult there as well, due to the fairly steep a 30-degree, uphill slope - "Tal's Hill", for team president Tal Smith. As a tribute to Tiger Stadium, a flagpole stands in fair territory just two feet from the fence on Tal's Hill. The stadium has a retractable roof. A retractable roof was necessary for the ballpark owing to the extreme climate that prevails in Texas . The roof at Minute Maid Park , however, retracts completely off the ballpark to reveal the largest open area of any retractable roofed baseball stadium in existence today. It has 3 panels, which can open or close in 20 minutes. A polyurethane suspension pad that acts as a spring is attached above each wheel that balances the weight of the roof. Three levels of green seats extend from the left field foul pole to home plate and around to the right field foul pole. Two levels of seats are located beyond the right field fence. Astros fans are as close to the action as any in big league baseball. The stadium has nine different seating areas: Dugout Boxes, Field Boxes, Crawford Boxes, Bullpen Boxes, Club Tier I, Club Tier II, Terrace Deck, Mezzanine, and Upper Deck.

The seats are painted in deep green to match the retro look and design of the ballpark. The Diamond Club, Club Level and Suites provide the ultimate in entertaining areas. The suites offer all the premium luxuries and comforts. The stadium has high-tech distributed sound system. Minute Maid Park is the first major sports facility to feature a closed-captioning board for the hearing impaired. Fans can purchase the Astros goods at The Shed, the Astros' official gift shop at Union Station. Fans can also purchase original oil paintings, lithographs, bronze sculptures and other unique memorabilia at the Gallery at Minute Maid Park . Renovated areas in Union Station include space for retail and cafés, administrative offices for the Astros and a tour theater. There is a restaurant located in center field, which offers inside or outdoor seating options. The "Minute Maid Squeeze Play" area along the right field line is an interactive area for children. The "Conoco Home Plate Tower" along Texas Avenue is a popular gathering point for fans. In 2004, the Astros launched Wi-Fi throughout the ballpark, allowing fans to use the Internet while attending a game The ballpark was originally Enron Field, when the Houston energy corporation bought the naming rights to the stadium. When the energy corporation went bankrupt in the midst of one of the biggest business scandals in American history in 2001, the Astros dissolved the deal and renamed the stadium as "Astros Field." In 2002 Minute Maid, the fruit-juice subsidiary of Coca-Cola, acquired the naming rights to the stadium.