HOUSTON. It was a welcome break from watching ball in the torrid heat of Arlington where when the air is still in the middle of August or July it is almost indescribable.
Minute Maid Ballpark, home to the 4th place National League Central Houston Astros, is tucked into downtown Houston across the street from a historic Catholic mission complete with a bell tower, and within easy walking distance of any number of downtown hotels.
Once known as Enron Field (changed for obvious reasons), Minute Maid is one of the cleanest parks I've ever visited not to mention one of the easiest to get around in and quite fan friendly. The warmth of the place (not to mention the coolness of it, with the a.c.) heightened the game-watching experience: not just the action on the field, but everything that goes along with it: the different pockets of people, the casuals, the die-hards, and -- only in Houston -- a group of Hispanic males, all on the healthy side shall we say, wearing Carlos Lee jerseys, straw Cowboys hats and shouting "Go Astros" from their perch overlooking center field. A baseball-watching experience, to be fully enjoyed, is about much more than what is going on, on the field.
And while this is certainly not meant as any sort of complaint, it's an odd place to watch a game. With the configuration of the field, the design of the stadium and the windows on almost the entire northside exposing downtown, it can feel more like watching a game in a large airplane hangar, especially with its arced ceiling and exposed iron support beams overhead.
Still, the place is air conditioned, the concession lines short and the action good (Brian Moehler would nearly finish a complete game and the slugger Lee belted a two-out grand slam to put the 'Stros up 6-1 in what would end as a 6-2 Houston win.)
The Minute Maid atmosphere, which also included a saxman playing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on the Houston streets before and after the game, was very family friendly and Minute Maid is a visual delight, and worth a visit by casual fans and purists alike.
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