The Astros Experience
Game Day: Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
Thinking about joining us for a Houston Astros game? If yes, you're a genius. Use this guide to make your visit to Minute Maid Park a memorable one.
From April to October, fans flock to Minute Maid Park for baseball, food, and fun! The park is conveniently located in the heart of downtown next to the convention center. Along with exciting games, fans can also experience some of Avenida's world-class cuisine with restaurants and menu items from local chefs. Don’t miss this exciting Houston tradition while you’re in town!
Batting Practice
Before every home game at Minute Maid Park, the Astros and visiting team take batting practice. Bring a glove and catch some free souvenirs as some of baseball’s biggest stars hit homers into the stands starting 2 hours and 25 minutes before game time. This is also the time when players often interact with fans and give autographs before preparing for the game. If you don’t catch a baseball of your own, there are multiple gift shops at the park overflowing with ‘Stros memorabilia.
Play Ball!
Once the game is underway, Minute Maid hums with excitement. For restless kids, try visiting the Kids Zone at the northeast corner of the ballpark at the Right Field Entrance near Section 133 for activities, music, and even slushies! Who knows, you might even get to meet Orbit, the Astros’ furry mascot that routinely makes his way around the stadium throughout the game.
Food Inside and Outside the Stadium
Minute Maid Park made national headlines at the beginning of the 2015 with its fried chicken and waffle cone. For the record, it is as good as it looks! The dish is part of a larger park-wide menu that infuses local flavors with a unique twist. New additions for this year include: Jackson Street BBQ (section 124) , Osso and Kristalla (section 226) and DAT Creole (section 102).
If eating at the stadium isn’t for you, within walking distance of Minute Maid are a handful of excellent dining options on the Avenida that serve as a great pre-game meetup or post-game celebration. For more options take a short walk to Discovery Green, where mouth-watering options like Biggio's, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Kulture and The Rustic are staples for both quality food and an onslaught of unbeatable happy hours.
Where To Stay
Don't want to put a time constraint on all the fun? Choose from one of the many luxurious hotels offered on the Avenida campus such as the Marriott-Marquis, the Westin, the Hilton-Americas or Embassy Suites. All of which are within walking distance from the park, and provide unbeatable amenities and comfort during your celebratory stay.
Stadium Tour
Minute Maid Park
Originally called the Colt .45’s, the Astros changed their name when they began playing at the famous Astrodome from 1965-1999. Minute Maid Park became the new home of baseball in Houston. The park was built using pre-existing historical architecture such as the Houston Union Station terminal as a cornerstone.
Free tours are available 3 hours before every home game time (except for Sunday games). Longer, more exclusive tours including the dugout and bullpen are available at 10 am and 12 pm Monday – Saturday for $14.25.
Food at the Park
Dining inside the stadium has never been easier, or more exciting! Minute Maid Park debuts new restaurants for 2018, including: Jackson Street BBQ (section 124) , Osso and Kristalla (section 226) and DAT Creole (section 102) are being added to the current mix:
- Little Bigs (Section 112)
- Kickin Nacho Portable (Sections 120 and 408)
- El Real (Sections 125 and 215)
- Texas Legend Grill (Section 134)
- The FiveSeven Grille (Section 156)
- The Butcher (Section 224)
- The Caz (Section 230)
- FiveSeven Market (Center Field Area)
- Shake Shack (Center Field Area in Main Concourse)
- Torchy's Tacos (Mezzanine Level)
- Dining Car Grill (Section 418)
Diamond Club
The Diamond Club offers some of the most luxurious ways to watch the game. Start your game day experience off with fine dining in a private lounge with a menu’s created by celebrity chef Bryan Caswell and executive chef Tori Bergersen. Enjoy all the gourmet food you can handle and finish up with a fully stocked candy/snack bar. A top-shelf fully stocked bar is available as well. With cushioned game seats right behind home plate, it doesn’t get much better than this!
Minute Maid also features a number of other club level seating options including executive suites. For fans that drive Mazda-made cars, show up early to the game and park free in exclusive parking at Lot C. Then, proceed to show your Mazda key to gain access to the exclusive Mazda Club Level. The area features unique restaurants, private bathrooms, and great views of the field.
Parking
All this sound great but worried about how time consuming finding a parking spot will be? We hear you. Thankfully, Avenida has three of it's own garages available: Avenida North, South and Central Garages. Pro Tip: Eat at one of the dank restaurants listed above and they'll validate your parking for two hours worth. 😉 For more details on parking, head over here.
