Renovations coming to Minute Maid Park in 2015
HOUSTON -- The Astros announced Tuesday that renovations will be coming next season to the club level and upper deck areas of Minute Maid Park in a continuing effort to improve the fan experience. The improvements made to both areas seek to elevate the quality of concessions and food service available in the ballpark, as well as bring the game to the fans.
The entire club level will receive a floor-to-ceiling makeover, including new flooring and paint. The food and beverage stands will be repositioned to allow fans a clear view of the field from various points on the concourse, and the general infrastructure of many of the new concession stands will be renovated to allow for fresher, higher quality food and beverage products.
What was formerly the ticket sales office on the third-base side of the club level will become a high-end eating venue providing views from Texas Avenue to the field, and smoking areas will be consolidated to avoid close proximity to any areas designated for children, such as the Minute Maid Park Squeeze Play.
"We are very excited to take another step in our ongoing effort to make the fan experience at Minute Maid Park one of the best in baseball," said Astros senior vice president of business operations Marcel Braithwaite. "In 2012, we completely reconstructed the diamond club, followed by a major renovation of the main concourse's concessions and retail locations in 2013. This next phase will bring a unified look to our ballpark as a whole and hopefully make every fan feel like he or she has the best seat in the house."
The renovations will begin this fall, starting on the third-base side and continuing on to the first-base side during the winter months. Minute Maid Park will be open and available for events during the renovation process.
Braithwaite and team president of business operations Reid Ryan have combined to tour more than 20 ballparks this summer to get ideas to redefine and reshape the areas beyond the outfield walls with hopes of adding even more fan-friendly amenities prior to the 2016 season.