| Normally I don't like domes.
But this one feels right. Especially on a hot summer day in Texas. I visited
Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park) on a hot Sunday afternoon, and was quite thankful for the air
conditioning. Despite the roof, Enron Field is not a dark, dingy place
to watch a game as most domes are. The large glass wall that extends from
left field into center field allows natural light to pour in and make it
feel more like an outdoor park than it otherwise would. The park is tucked
nicely into a downtown setting. The builders did a wonderful job of incorporating
the old train station into part of the park. This is located in left field
and houses the team gift store. The lower concourse area is located in
view of the playing field, though is a bit cramped, especially before and
after the game. There is a nice array of concessions, though as with most
parks they are a bit expensive. My biggest complaint with the layout of
the park is the placement of the press box on the first level, thus taking
away many good seats and obstructing the view from the concourse. As with
other new parks, the employees seems to be a little too strict. Bags were
checked closely at the turnstiles, and some ushers checked tickets before
allowing you to enter a section. Parking near the ballpark is somewhat
limited and expensive - expect to pay $10 or more to park close. If you
attend a game with the roof on, be sure to stick around as they take it
off almost immediately after the last out is made. It is quite a sight to
see. Despite the large upper decks, Enron Field still has a rather intimate
feel to it - more so than other "cozy" parks like Camden Yards and Jacobs
Field. An impressive new facility that should serve as a model for any
city needing to build a park with a retractable roof.
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