Get SI's Lakers Championship Package FREE!  Subscribe to SI Give the Gift of SI
SI.com HomeA CNN Network SiteSI.com Home
MLB
Scores | Teams | Players | Player News | Standings | Probables | Schedules | Stats | Transactions | Injuries | Tickets | MLB.TV
MLB Ballpark Rankings: Houston Astros
Houston Astros
Houston Astros
Minute Maid Park|Capacity: 40,950|Opened: 2000
OVERALL RANK
16
Minute Maid Park
Bob Levey/Getty Images
Category Rank (1-30)
14		Affordability
How would you rate the affordability of a trip to your hometown ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1.5% 4.4% 54.2% 26.1% 13.8%
 
Ticket Costs
Average Ticket % Increase From 2007 MLB Rank MLB Average Ticket
$28.73 6.8% 22nd $25.43
Courtesy Team Marketing Report, 2008
Category Rank (1-30)
15		Food
How would you rate the food at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
2% 5.9% 37.1% 41.1% 13.9%
 
How would you rate the cost of food and beverages at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
12.7% 22.5% 44.6% 18.6% 1.5%
 
What is the must-have food item offered at the ballpark and what makes it so good?
  • "Steak burrito at Nine Amigos. It's better quality beef than any restaurant in Houston -- and they'll gladly supply extra guacamole. The quesadillas aren't too shabby either."
  • "The only really bad thing about Minute Maid Park is the food. The 'specialty' stuff is rancid, but luckily, nearly all of the choices are Aramark. The in-stadium restaurant is the worst I've seen."
  • "It used to be Dome Dogs, now they're just generic outsourced hotdogs. It makes me cry inside a little."
  • "Shiner Bock -- REAL Texas beer!"
Category Rank (1-30)
18		Team Quality
How would you rate the quality of the product currently being put on the field by the hometown team?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1.5% 17.7% 37.9% 35% 7.9%
 
Which player on your team is the most worth paying to watch?
Roy Oswalt Lance Berkman Hunter Pence Carlos Lee Brad Ausmus
44.9% 25% 23.5% 5.6% 0.5%
 
Aaron M. Sprecher/Icon SMI
Category Rank (1-30)
20		History & Tradition
How would you rate the sense of tradition and history at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
6.4% 20.8% 39.6% 24.3% 8.9%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
16		Ballpark Atmosphere
How would you rate the atmosphere at the game?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1.5% 2% 21.7% 41.9% 33%
 
How would you rate the level of personal comfort when you are sitting in your seat?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1% 3.5% 28.2% 40.6% 26.7%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
19		Fan Intelligence
How would you rate the "baseball intelligence" of the home fans?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
5% 12.9% 29.7% 37.6% 14.9%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
7		Fan Hospitality
How would you rate the hospitality offered to fans of the opposing team?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
1% 3.5% 37.1% 35.6% 22.8%
 
What is the worst incident you've witnessed against an opposing fan or yourself?
  • "Nothing. We're too nice."
  • "None. It is an NL park, so you don't get obnoxious Yankees and Red Sox fans that insist on being idiots. You do get lots of Cubs fans, but they are generally laid back."
  • "No incidents -- other than one started by a couple of visiting team fans. It was all verbal and finished off pretty quickly. The MM staff is very good with those types of issues."
  • "HECKLING."
  • "There's just some jawing back and forth."
Category Rank (1-30)
12		Promotions
How would you rate the quality of the promotions/giveaways offered by the home team?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
0% 8.1% 41.4% 36.4% 14.1%
 
What is the best promotion/giveaway your team has offered? What is the worst? What is a promotion you'd like to see?
  • "Astros' Friday night Family Value Packs are the best. It makes a trip to the park affordable. An eating contest after the game was the worst and stupidest. All the eating contest big names participated, but who really cares about those ridiculous events? "
  • "Roy Oswalt bulldozer bobblehead"
  • "They all pretty much stink. I'd like to see them offer a plea-bargain night."
  • "Best: Replica NL Champion rings for the fans. Cheap replicas, but very significant to this long-suffering Astros fan."
Category Rank (1-30)
17		Getting To The Game
How would you rate the traffic to and from the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
4% 13.9% 43.8% 22.4% 15.9%
 
How would you rate the parking availability/cost at the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
6.5% 15.5% 38.5% 28% 11.5%
 
How would you rate the public transportation options to and from the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
19.7% 26.8% 30.8% 15.2% 7.6%
 
Category Rank (1-30)
13		Neighborhood
How would you rate the dining and drinking options within walking distance of the ballpark?
Poor Below Average Average Above Average Excellent
5% 16% 26% 32% 21%
 

Agree or disagree with the rankings? Post your own comments and see what others had to say.

 
ADVERTISEMENT
More MLB
Latest MLB News
MLB Truth & Rumors
More from SI.com
Latest News
SI Writers
SI Photos
Manny Being Manny
Manny Being Manny
Back in Time: July 3
Back in Time: July 3
SI Vault
Featured Stories
Covers
07.06.09
07.06.09
Read All Articles
Buy Cover Reprint
07.04.60
07.04.60
View This Issue
Read All Articles
SI.com
Hot Topics: Manny Ramirez Phil Jackson Tiger Woods Wimbledon: Roger Federer
Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.
SI CoverLatest Issue: 07.06.09