WHO:                   Houston Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan
                                Houston Astros Senior VP of Business Operations Marcel Braithwaite
                                Houston Astros mascot Orbit
WHAT:                The Astros will be breaking ground on their highly-anticipated center field renovation project
                                this Monday, October 10. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Monday
                                in center field, with photo opportunities and availabilities for media.
WHEN:                Monday, October 10
                                1:00 p.m.
WHERE:              Minute Maid Park
                                501 Crawford Street, Houston, TX 77002 - center field
INFORMATION:
The Houston Astros will begin construction on the center field area of Minute Maid Park this Monday, Oct. 10. Construction is scheduled to be complete and the new center field area will be ready for fans to enjoy by the start of the 2017 season.
The renovation will include improved seating options, new food and beverage options, the addition of escalators to improve fan access and revisions to the playing field, including the removal of Tal's Hill.
The design of the new center field area was in partnership with MSA Sport and influenced by feedback from fans, current and former players and front office personnel. Astros executives also visited over 20 MLB ballparks as part of the center field project planning process.
FUN FACTS
• The original center field distance of 436 feet will move to 409 feet, moving Minute Maid Park from the deepest center distance to the sixth-farthest in the league. In 2016 alone, the Astros hit approximately 10 balls to Tal's Hill for extra bases, all of which would be home runs in the renovated center field area.
• The seating capacity of Minute Maid Park will remain essentially the same, with improved visibility for fans to enjoy the game from center field.
• The renovation of center field will result in a total of three new bar locations, four additional food locations and a premium group seating area at field level, creating the first and only field-level seating area available at Minute Maid Park.
Since Jim Crane's group purchased the ballclub in 2011, the Astros have renovated the Diamond Club, main concourse and Mazda Club Level, installed a state-of-the art sound system, refurbished the player's clubhouse and workout facility and installed new grass on the playing field. The multi-million dollar investment in the new and improved center field area will be another exciting update that showcases the commitment to making Minute Maid Park a great destination for fans of all ages by providing a modern, communal gathering place for fans to enjoy before, during and after games all season long.
-ASTROS-