minute maid park guide
Minute Maid Park is home to the Houston Astros, and it is named after a juice company. While it is no Astrodome, this is a pretty nice facility. This guide is going to focus on the smartest way to catch a game which will save you time and money, but you can find the official site here for Minute Maid Park.
minute maid park parking
One great rule for parking in downtown Houston, or anywhere for that matter, is bring cash. Its always nice to have some coins if you need to feed a meter, or if you find a great cash only lot. The great news is parking is pretty plentiful around Minute Maid Park if you know what you are doing.
If you want to park for free, or nearly free, you need to get there early as usual. If this isn't practical for you, we will discuss other options in a minute. If you are traveling to see the game, or have time on your hands, being early to a game can really allow you to soak in some atmosphere. The metered parking in Houston is in effect until 6pm unless otherwise posted. As in many cities, this is a great option if you are arriving early. There are metered spots right next to Minute Maid Park which you should avoid, these spots will tow after 6pm on a game night because of their proximity to the stadium. Your best bet is to shoot for parking meters at least a few blocks away. If you get there around 5 pm (or 2 hours early) you should be able to feed the meter a buck or two to get you past 6 o'clock, at which point you are good.
Something else worth considering if you want to park for free at the Astros game is the free shuttle to Minute Maid park from Ninfa's. This is a Mexican place that does a free park and ride for patrons to Astros games and Rockets games. Here is there website (always good to verify ahead of time.)
Another option depending on which direction you are coming from is the light rail system. Houston's light rail has various park and ride locations where you can park for free or really cheap, and then pay a couple of bucks to ride into downtown. The stop you are looking for is Main st. which is about 6 blocks from the stadium.
Here is a link to the park and ride map
Another solid option for Astros parking is using Park Whiz. This site lets you pre-pay for a space in various garages/lots so you don't have to stress about where to park. It is a pretty cool concept and you can find some cheap deals for sure. It is especially helpful when you are going to a game that is supposed to be a big crowd.
If you are planning on paying a little bit to park, you can definitely do it for 5 dollars. I would still recommend sticking to the plan of arriving early, because not all parking is created equal. Once great lot with a pretty limited availability sits on Avenue of the Americas right next to the Convention Center. Either way, there are an estimated 25,000 spots within walking distance, so I would look on the street first, and then drive some blocks in search of $5 lots. I would say that greater than 80% of the time you can get it done for $5 or less.
Here are reservable parking spots available for upcoming games, just click the date you need:
If you want to park for free, or nearly free, you need to get there early as usual. If this isn't practical for you, we will discuss other options in a minute. If you are traveling to see the game, or have time on your hands, being early to a game can really allow you to soak in some atmosphere. The metered parking in Houston is in effect until 6pm unless otherwise posted. As in many cities, this is a great option if you are arriving early. There are metered spots right next to Minute Maid Park which you should avoid, these spots will tow after 6pm on a game night because of their proximity to the stadium. Your best bet is to shoot for parking meters at least a few blocks away. If you get there around 5 pm (or 2 hours early) you should be able to feed the meter a buck or two to get you past 6 o'clock, at which point you are good.
Something else worth considering if you want to park for free at the Astros game is the free shuttle to Minute Maid park from Ninfa's. This is a Mexican place that does a free park and ride for patrons to Astros games and Rockets games. Here is there website (always good to verify ahead of time.)
Another option depending on which direction you are coming from is the light rail system. Houston's light rail has various park and ride locations where you can park for free or really cheap, and then pay a couple of bucks to ride into downtown. The stop you are looking for is Main st. which is about 6 blocks from the stadium.
Here is a link to the park and ride map
Another solid option for Astros parking is using Park Whiz. This site lets you pre-pay for a space in various garages/lots so you don't have to stress about where to park. It is a pretty cool concept and you can find some cheap deals for sure. It is especially helpful when you are going to a game that is supposed to be a big crowd.
If you are planning on paying a little bit to park, you can definitely do it for 5 dollars. I would still recommend sticking to the plan of arriving early, because not all parking is created equal. Once great lot with a pretty limited availability sits on Avenue of the Americas right next to the Convention Center. Either way, there are an estimated 25,000 spots within walking distance, so I would look on the street first, and then drive some blocks in search of $5 lots. I would say that greater than 80% of the time you can get it done for $5 or less.
Here are reservable parking spots available for upcoming games, just click the date you need:
Tickets For Astros Games
The cheapest seats at Minute Maid Park are about $5, which is pretty good. Personally, I think the rest of the ticket prices shoot-up pretty quickly from there. The 'Stros follow the dynamic pricing model, meaning the prices fluctuate from day to day based on a variety of factors. So those cheap seats may not be so cheap for a special event like Opening Day or a big series during the year. I have said plenty of times that the best value is not always the cheapest seat, but in this case I think it is.
If you are going with the cheapest seats, I would go for sections 405 - 407 in left field. Those last few sections are wrapping around the edge of the stadium and provide a nice view of the action. You also get an easy view of the scoreboard and the big screen, which I love. The jumbo trons provide so much good information and fun between innings that you can really miss a lot if you don't see it during a game, so for me its a must have. If you sit in the outfield seats in right, all of that is behind you which is inconvenient. Another cool thing from here is a view of the train behind left field which is a unique feature of Minute Maid Park.
Most of the time, there is no need to pay face value for tickets. You can almost always find them for less at Score Big of Stubhub. Stubhub is the official marketplace for MLB tickets, and they protect you against fraudulent tickets. If you want to buy on Stubhub, you are usually better off if you can wait until close to game time. For baseball, you usually print your tickets at home after you buy.
This means you can often buy tickets up until a couple hours before game time. From the seller perspective, Stubhub encourages sellers to reduce their price incrementally as the event gets closer so they aren't stuck with the tickets. So when you are looking at a game that starts in just a few hours, it is likely you are going to find some great value.
Another great place to buy tickets is from Score Big. Let's face it, most ticket broker sites are the same but this one is actually different. It is kind of like the Priceline of sports tickets. Essentially you can search events in your area, and make an offer on tickets and get an instant answer on whether your bid is accepted.
Here are a couple of screenshots of how it works. You can select a quantity, and then it gives you different tiers. It gives you an approximate discount percentage, and shows on the seat map which sections your tickets could possibly be in.
Next you enter in a price, again it gives you an idea how how likely that is to be accepted. I made the comparison to Priceline, and it is true, you have to put in payment details prior to making an official offer. But if you are going to the game, what a great way to save money on tickets!
Here are some upcoming 'Stros games:
If you are going with the cheapest seats, I would go for sections 405 - 407 in left field. Those last few sections are wrapping around the edge of the stadium and provide a nice view of the action. You also get an easy view of the scoreboard and the big screen, which I love. The jumbo trons provide so much good information and fun between innings that you can really miss a lot if you don't see it during a game, so for me its a must have. If you sit in the outfield seats in right, all of that is behind you which is inconvenient. Another cool thing from here is a view of the train behind left field which is a unique feature of Minute Maid Park.
Most of the time, there is no need to pay face value for tickets. You can almost always find them for less at Score Big of Stubhub. Stubhub is the official marketplace for MLB tickets, and they protect you against fraudulent tickets. If you want to buy on Stubhub, you are usually better off if you can wait until close to game time. For baseball, you usually print your tickets at home after you buy.
This means you can often buy tickets up until a couple hours before game time. From the seller perspective, Stubhub encourages sellers to reduce their price incrementally as the event gets closer so they aren't stuck with the tickets. So when you are looking at a game that starts in just a few hours, it is likely you are going to find some great value.
Another great place to buy tickets is from Score Big. Let's face it, most ticket broker sites are the same but this one is actually different. It is kind of like the Priceline of sports tickets. Essentially you can search events in your area, and make an offer on tickets and get an instant answer on whether your bid is accepted.
Here are a couple of screenshots of how it works. You can select a quantity, and then it gives you different tiers. It gives you an approximate discount percentage, and shows on the seat map which sections your tickets could possibly be in.
Next you enter in a price, again it gives you an idea how how likely that is to be accepted. I made the comparison to Priceline, and it is true, you have to put in payment details prior to making an official offer. But if you are going to the game, what a great way to save money on tickets!
Here are some upcoming 'Stros games:
food at minute maid park
Minute Maid Park is not very budget friendly when it comes to food and drink rules. They don't permit you to bring in any food or drink, which is pretty rare in MLB ballparks. Concession prices are always high at Minute Maid Park, but there isn't a shortage of bars and restaurants around the stadium which can save you some money. If you search the area and find a place you want to try, I would give them a call beforehand to see if they have parking or a free shuttle to the game as some places in the area do.
Another option that I consistently recommend is Restaurant.com Here you can buy $25 gift certificates to local restaurants for $10. You can also do a google search for "Restaurant.com coupon codes" and almost always get an extra 60 - 80% off that. I often buy these $25 certificates for $2. That is the best way to eat a decent meal before or after the game and save a chunk of change. When you follow the link, just type in the zip code of Minute Maid Park (77002) to see what restaurants are nearby. The is one opportunity for a freebie when you are inside the stadium. If you sign up to be a designated driver they give you a certificate for a free soda. I don't know if it's worth it for you, but it exists.
view from the right field stands.
where to stay
If you are going to Houston with the sole purpose of going to an Astros game, you might want to find a hotel near the stadium. That sounds a little obvious but the benefit is while you will have to pay for parking at the hotel, you can walk to the game so you save a little time and money there.
The other option that I recommend for any city is Hotwire.com. I have had nothing but great experiences with them. Some people are scared because it doesn’t give you the name of the hotel until after you have bought it, but I would never use another travel site. Their ratings are trustworthy, and you can get a really good idea of the area you are staying on their map. A couple of personal examples: I got a room at the Intercontinental on Michigan Ave. in Chicago for $79 per night. I also had a room at the Hilton in St. Louis, with a view of the arch for $89 per night. In my experience; the hotel you get will have you a room available, but when you check in they ask what kind of room you want. If the person is cool, they give you one of the nicest rooms available. I will use no other travel site for hotels.
After saying all of that, if you can find a 3 star place in the same vicinity as Minute Maid Park, I would take it. If you are looking for a more interactive and exciting option, try AirBNB. Basically people turn their homes into a bed and breakfast and rent you a room. There are tons of cool, unique places available - especially in a big city like Houston. I've used AirBNB myself and recommend it if this is in your comfort zone. Check it out.
Another option that I consistently recommend is Restaurant.com Here you can buy $25 gift certificates to local restaurants for $10. You can also do a google search for "Restaurant.com coupon codes" and almost always get an extra 60 - 80% off that. I often buy these $25 certificates for $2. That is the best way to eat a decent meal before or after the game and save a chunk of change. When you follow the link, just type in the zip code of Minute Maid Park (77002) to see what restaurants are nearby. The is one opportunity for a freebie when you are inside the stadium. If you sign up to be a designated driver they give you a certificate for a free soda. I don't know if it's worth it for you, but it exists.
view from the right field stands.
where to stay
If you are going to Houston with the sole purpose of going to an Astros game, you might want to find a hotel near the stadium. That sounds a little obvious but the benefit is while you will have to pay for parking at the hotel, you can walk to the game so you save a little time and money there.
The other option that I recommend for any city is Hotwire.com. I have had nothing but great experiences with them. Some people are scared because it doesn’t give you the name of the hotel until after you have bought it, but I would never use another travel site. Their ratings are trustworthy, and you can get a really good idea of the area you are staying on their map. A couple of personal examples: I got a room at the Intercontinental on Michigan Ave. in Chicago for $79 per night. I also had a room at the Hilton in St. Louis, with a view of the arch for $89 per night. In my experience; the hotel you get will have you a room available, but when you check in they ask what kind of room you want. If the person is cool, they give you one of the nicest rooms available. I will use no other travel site for hotels.
After saying all of that, if you can find a 3 star place in the same vicinity as Minute Maid Park, I would take it. If you are looking for a more interactive and exciting option, try AirBNB. Basically people turn their homes into a bed and breakfast and rent you a room. There are tons of cool, unique places available - especially in a big city like Houston. I've used AirBNB myself and recommend it if this is in your comfort zone. Check it out.
free stuff at minute maid park
- The 2012 Coca-Cola Astros Buddies Kids Club is great for young Astros fans! With two memberships to choose from - the free Rookie membership and the loaded $20 MVP membership - there’s affordable fun for everyone! In addition to members-only autograph sessions and a kids press conference with players, MVP members receive free tickets, a collector’s baseball cap, rainbow jersey drawstring bag and a wall banner, all celebrating the team’s 50th Anniversary!
- Located near section 105 on the Main Concourse, the Designated Driver Booth is part of the ARAMARK Corporation's "Serves You Right" program. Any person who goes to the booth and identifies him or herself as a designated driver will receive a coupon for a free small soda at any of the ARAMARK concession stands.