Before it was a ballpark, the west end of Minute Maid Park was Union Station, making a train a very apt addition. Vazquez told Chron.com in 2013 that he drives the 60,000-pound train at a slow and safe 2.5 mph. It can go 10 mph but it's not the safest thing to do up there.
Full Answer
Why is there a train at Minute Maid Park?
why is there a train at Minute Maid Park? It was brought to Houston on March 13, 2000, to serve as an attraction for baseball fans and citizens. Construction workers lift a replica of a 19th century locomotive onto tracks that run alongside the moveable roof Enron Field, the Houston Astro's new downtown baseball stadium Saturday March 18, 2000, in Houston.
What time can you enter Minute Maid Park?
What time can you enter Minute Maid Park? Monday-Saturday*: The gates of Minute Maid Park will open two hours prior to game time with access limited to the main concourse and lower bowl seating except for games with giveaways. Full ballpark access begins 90 minutes before first pitch.
Is there a shuttle to Minute Maid Park?
There are not any free shuttles, but there's always metro running and it's about a buck and you can use the transfers as long as you are going in the same direction before the time expires. There are a few bars surrounding the park, so your options are not limited.
Can you buy tickets at Minute Maid Park?
Tickets for events at Minute Maid Park Parking can be purchased at TicketCity. Buy Tickets to Next event. Minute Maid Park Parking Seating Chart. The Minute Maid Park Parking Seating Chart lets customers view the available tickets, and ticket prices, by clicking on that section of the seating map.
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Where is the train at Minute Maid Park?
No matter what Minute Maid Park looks like during baseball season, we know Bobby Dynamite will be there cheering on the Astros and conducting the old train perched atop the façade of archways 90 feet above left field.
How far is the train tracks at Minute Maid Park?
800-footThe train moves along an 800-foot (240 m) length of track on top of the length of the exterior wall beyond left field when the Astros take the field during the first inning, when an Astros player hits a home run, and when the Astros win a game. It is driven by Bobby Vásquez, who goes by the name Bobby Dynamite.
How do I get to Minute Maid Park on Metrorail?
To access Minute Maid Park, exit at the Convention District Station Stop from the Green/Purple Line. Or, from the Red Line, exit the Preston Station stop, and walk six blocks. GREENLINK: The Greenlink Circulator operated by METRO provides curbside service to Minute Maid Park, and it's FREE.
What is not allowed in Minute Maid Park?
Please do not bring balloons, beach balls, nets or laser pointers into Minute Maid Park. These items are not permitted at any time. For the safety of all fans, do not interfere with the progress of the game or go onto the playing field.
Is it cold inside Minute Maid Park?
Minute Maid Park is cooled by a chilled water system installed when the baseball arena opened in 2000. Piping and cooling devices pump water through miles of conduits to create chilled air.
Are there shuttles to Minute Maid Park?
Something else worth considering if you want to park for free at the Astros game is the free shuttle to Minute Maid park from Ninfa's.
Does Houston Metro Rail go to Minute Maid Park?
One of the most economical and hassle-free trips to Minute Maid Park is on METRO. Several local bus routes and rail stops are just a short walk from the ball park.
Does Houston Light Rail go by Minute Maid Park?
The 900 is the first Light Rail that goes to Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros). It stops nearby at 3:35 AM.
How early does Minute Maid Park open?
Monday-Saturday: The gates of Minute Maid Park will open two hours prior to game time with access limited to the main concourse and lower bowl seating. Full ballpark access begins 90 minutes before first pitch.
Are backpacks allowed at the Astros game?
Leave Your Large Bag at Home For everyone's safety, bags exceeding 16” x 16” x 8” and backpacks are not permitted inside Minute Maid Park. All bags will be searched upon entry. See full Bag Policy for details.
How much is a hotdog at Minute Maid Park?
Minute Maid Park, the official name of Astros stadium, you are likely to pay $6 for a hot dog to $6.95 for 2 scoops of Blue Bell ice cream. On the alcohol end, you will be spending between $9.25 and $13.25. For the simplest of drinks, a Coke, it will set you back $8.50 for a souvenir cup.
Can I bring my purse to the Astros game?
The Astros released the following COVID-19 guidelines for fans at home games: BAG POLICY: Bags will not be allowed in the venue. Exceptions are manufacturer designed diaper bags, when accompanied by an infant or small child, medical bags, and gallon bags used for bringing food or water into the building.
Does Houston Metro Rail go to Minute Maid Park?
One of the most economical and hassle-free trips to Minute Maid Park is on METRO. Several local bus routes and rail stops are just a short walk from the ball park.
Why was Tal's Hill removed?
It was announced last year that after the 2016 season, Tal's Hill would be removed in order to build some standing room sections and a new restaurant. With the death of Tal's Hill, baseball has lost one of the last unique ballpark features.
Why is it called Minute Maid Park?
The field was unofficially known as "The Field Formerly Known As Enron" by fans and critics alike, in wake of the Enron scandal. On June 5, 2002, Houston-based Minute Maid, the fruit-juice subsidiary of Coca-Cola, acquired the naming rights to the stadium for 28 years at a price exceeding $100 million.
What baseball team has the train?
the AstrosHis job: Whenever the Astros take the field for the first inning or hit a home run or score a run, Bobby Dynamite conducts the train along 800 feet of track, rings the bell, and toots the whistle.
How long is the Minute Maid train?
56 feet long. Runs on 800 feet of track. Weighs 48,000 pounds. Moves at 2.5 miles per hour. The train hauls hundreds of oranges, as a tribute to one of Minute Maid's most popular products: Orange juice.
When was Minute Maid Park in Houston built?
When constructed in 2000, Minute Maid Park was named The Ballpark at Union Station. The actual Union Station opened in 1911. The train station served as the main terminal for Houston passengers for more than 70 years. Union Station was abandoned in the mid-1970s when Houston's Amtrak station opened in 1974.
Why does the train move in the Astros?
The train moves for three reasons: When the Astros take the field in the first inning, when an Astros player hits a home run and when the Astros win a game. Let's hope it moves a lot during the 2019 World Series. The Astros are in the World Series for the second time in three seasons.
Who drives the Astros train?
Games 6 and 7 will be played in Houston if they're necessary. The train is "driven" by Babby Vasquez, who goes by Bobby Dynamite.
How many World Series have the Astros won?
The Astros have been to only one World Series (2005) and have never won a championship. That could change this season, and as usual, Bobby Dynamite will have the best seat in the house.
Who is the conductor of the train at Minute Maid Park?
Originally posted on Oct. 14. HOUSTON --- Bobby Vasquez has the best view of the best offense in baseball. Vasquez, who answers to the name "Bobby Dynamite," is the conductor of the train that runs 90 feet above the ground beyond the left-field wall at Minute Maid Park.
Is Bobby Dynamite scared of heights?
There's something else you need to know about Bobby Dynamite: He's scared of heights, a fear he didn't fully realize in 2001 when he went from interning in the Astros' promotions department to sitting in the train.
How high is the train in Minute Maid Park?
One of the biggest hits inside Minute Maid Park, besides the dudes in the home dugout, is the train 90 feet above the field.
Who is the train guy at Minute Maid Park?
PHOTOS: Minute Maid Park's train is legendary. Bobby Vasquez, aka Bobby Dynamite, has the enviable job of conducting the train at Minute Maid Park. Every time the Astros get a home run, Vasquez moves the train down the track to the roar of the crowd. See more photos of the train through the years...
When did the train pass over pedestrians?
The train passes over outside pedestrians during the inaugural game at Enron Field between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees, 3/30/00.
How fast does the 60,000 pound train go?
Vazquez told Chron.com in 2013 that he drives the 60,000-pound train at a slow and safe 2.5 mph. It can go 10 mph but it's not the safest thing to do up there. There is no automatic stopping mechanism so he has to brake the train manually on the track.
Is the Astros train bigger than the locomotive?
The train that Astros fans know and love is just a quarter bigger than a real locomotive.
How long does it take to open a minute maid park roof?
It takes around 15 minutes to open or close the roof's three main panels, and to do so it makes use of 140 wheels and 60 motors. In total, the three roof panels weigh more than 5,700 metric tons. Speaking of which, he's a somewhat disconcerting detail via the official guide to Minute Maid Park :
What was the neighborhood around Union Station called?
Time was when the neighborhood around Union Station before there was any such thing as Union Station was called Quality Hill . I'll take them at their word on the "quality" descriptor, but there appears to be no hill involved. Anyhow, what came to known as the Cohn House (it was once home to one of the founders of Rice University, name of Cohn) was built in 1905 and survived the many changes that the neighborhood would see over the years.
How big is the MLB scoreboard?
Size of scoreboard: 6,696 square feet (fourth largest in MLB at the time of its installation in 2011) ...
What is a retractable roof?
The retractable roof. The retractable roof is a pretty impressive one, as such things go. Mostly that's because it truly retracts -- when it's fully open, the entire playing surface is exposed, making for the largest open area of any retractable roof currently in use.
Where is the glass in Minute Maid Park?
Noted! The glass in the roof on the northwest side of the park keeps Minute Maid Park from having a "dome" feel, even when the roof is closed, as it was for Game 1.
When was the Cohn House built?
Anyhow, what came to known as the Cohn House (it was once home to one of the founders of Rice University, name of Cohn) was built in 1905 and survived the many changes that the neighborhood would see over the years.
When was Craig Biggio's 3,000th hit?
We'll make it Craig Biggio's 3,000th hit on June 28, 2007 ...
Where to park for free at Astros?
Something else worth considering if you want to park for free at the Astros game is the free shuttle to Minute Maid park from Ninfa's. This is a Mexican place that does a free park and ride for patrons to Astros games and Rockets games.
Where do the purple and green lines stop?
The purple and green lines both stop at the Convention District Capitol light rail station. This is the closest station. If you are riding the red line, Preston Station is the closest to the "Juice Box", but it's still a 6 block walk after.
Is Minute Maid Park an Astrodome?
Minute Maid Park is home to the Houston Astros, and is obviously named after a juice company, but while it is no Astrodome, this is a pretty nice facility. This guide is going to focus on the smartest way to catch a game which will save you time and money.
Can you park on Avenida de las Americas?
One great lot with a pretty limited availability sits on Avenida de las Americas right next to the Convention Center.
Is Minute Maid Park a good place to eat?
Minute Maid Park is not very budget friendly when it comes to food and drink rules. They don't permit you to bring in any food or drink, which is pretty rare in MLB ballparks. Concession prices are always ASTROnomically high at Minute Maid Park, but there isn't a shortage of bars and restaurants around the stadium which can save you some money.
How many Astros games has Bobby Dynamite worked on?
Bobby Dynamite has worked over 1,500 Astros games as their train engineer. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Bobby Vasquez is probably not recognized on the street very often, but you've cheered for him before if you've ever attended a game at Minute Maid Park.
How many games did the train run?
For more than 1,500 games, the train still brings joy to its conductor. "Never, ever gets old," Bobby Vasquez said.
Who is the conductor of the Astros train?
Conductor of the Astros' train has the best view in baseball. Bobby Dynamite has worked over 1,500 Astros games as their train engineer. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Bobby Vasquez is probably not recognized on the street very often, but you've cheered for him before if you've ever attended a game at Minute Maid Park.
Will the Astros keep the conductor?
As long as the Astros keep him employed, he has no plans to leave his conductor role anytime soon.
