HOUSTON -- Baseball season is over for the year, but in a few weeks, the Astros will turn the lights back on at Daikin Park for an evening event that has become a staple of the offseason.
The 11th Astros “Diamond Dreams Gala” -- an elegant affair that turns the playing surface in the outfield into a party space for hundreds of guests -- will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14. The theme this year is Old Hollywood glamour, with proceeds from the event benefitting the Astros Foundation and the Salvation Army of Greater Houston.
The Astros have traditionally partnered with several charitable groups through the years, with one main focus: supporting the effort to reduce homelessness. They typically partner with one organization for multiple years, in an effort to build a strong foundation and maximize the impact. The Astros began their partnership with the Salvation Army in 2025, so this will be the second year with this particular group.
“We stay with them for a few years so they can really have an impact and make a difference in the lives of so many people who live unhoused here in Houston,” said Emelda Douglas, the Astros' SVP of community affairs and the Astros Foundation executive director.
The Old Hollywood, red carpet-themed gala will feature dinner, live and silent auctions, special appearances and a performance by three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Ludacris. He joins a lengthy list of prominent artists who have provided the entertainment at Astros galas over the years, including Flo Rida, Boyz II Men, Ne-Yo, Lionel Ritchie, Earth Wind & Fire, Diana Ross, James Taylor and Seal.
“It's going to be an elegant dinner, and we'll have live and silent auction opportunities,” Douglas said. “We'll have special appearances by the players and other VIPs in the community, and then to have this Grammy-winning artist Ludacris coming, it’s going to be over the top. We're very excited about it.”
The live auction will include several unique prizes intended to stand out among the items that are typically found in a sports-themed gala setting.
“We try to focus on those things that our friends could not get someplace else,” Douglas said.
One item, for example, is the "Jim Crane Owners Experience," which includes an all-inclusive golfing vacation at his course in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The team is also offering a prize that includes accompanying the Astros on a road trip during the regular season; another offering includes shadowing in-game reporter and fan favorite Julia Morales as she goes through a workday at Daikin Park.
More nostalgic fans might be interested in taking a round of batting practice at the ballpark with former pitcher and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens. The Astros are also offering a private dinner with Astros closer Josh Hader and his wife, Maria.
“Not only is he our phenomenal closer, but they are just such wonderful individuals, and they do a lot of good work in the community,” Douglas said.
The galas have raised millions over the past decade, and the Astros are optimistic this year’s event will significantly add to that total.
“It is just a time for us to really bring our stakeholders together and really have a magical evening on the field at Daikin Park,” Douglas said. “It’ll be Houston's philanthropic community and the business community and other community leaders, several of our other community partners, as it relates to nonprofit organizations. It's about raising money, but it's also about bringing our entire community together to celebrate the work of the Astros Foundation.”
More information about the gala can be found at www.astros.com/gala.