Review by Richard O’Neal, Stadium Journey Correspondent

Upon stepping off the Houston Light Rail train, an excitement came about that I hadn’t foreseen with attending a baseball game; this was going to be a good experience.

Attending an Astros game at Minute Maid Park is a must for all that come to visit Houston.  The rich history of the Astros’ organization as well as the family friendly atmosphere and excellent location speak volumes to what Houston provides to visitors and locals alike.

Just northeast of what was formally the old Union Station, Minute Maid Park brings a combination of old-school railroad memories in with modern day fan appeal, bars, restaurants and other entertainment alternatives.

FANFARE Score:  27

Food & Beverage:  4

Houston is well-known for its love of classic barbeque, and they didn’t disappoint here.  Lefty’s Barbeque, which is attached to the stadium at 501 Crawford, had an excellent everyday special going on called the “Everything’s $11 Menu” where hungry spectators could choose from several mouth-watering combinations , such as meat/sliced beef brisket, smoked BBQ ribs, smoked beef sausage and your choice of any two sides.  They had all of the regular beer selections from Corona to Miller Lite and were extremely friendly and courteous to customers.

If barbeque just isn’t on your taste palette on game day make your way to the many burger joints that are located just across the street from the park.  I walked over to Home Plate Bar & Grill, directly across from the home plate entrance at 1800 Texas, and took a look at the variety of burgers and sandwiches they had to offer.  I recommend the Home Plate Burger with fries for $8.50 or the Home Plate Wings for $6.75.  The Singha Beer was their signature beer that I saw a lot of customers drinking so give it a try when you stop in.

Have a burger- Home Plate Bar & Grill

The stadium itself had an interesting array of foods from barbeque to pizza and all incredibly overpriced, which didn’t surprise me at all (for example a Papa John’s personal pizza was $7.00).  If you are going to eat, make sure you do it before you come to the game.

Atmosphere:  5

Although the Astrodome had a much better aura, Minute Maid Park brings a very nice feel to the overall game day experience.  They try to appeal to train lovers more than they do baseball fans though with a Union Station replica built into the stadium, as well as the replica train that was built above the centerfield stands that sounds off when a run is scored and/or a home run is hit by the Astros.

Inside Minte Maid Park (Roof Closed)

Neighborhood:  4

The outskirts of Minute Maid Park give off an eclectic and up-coming vibe.  The best factor is the location and the excellent view of downtown Houston from the stadium, especially when the retractable roof is open.

Fans:  5

It was a pleasant surprise to see that the fans were very knowledgeable and passionate for their team.  The attendance was listed at 30,043 and they were certainly loud throughout the game.

Access:  5

Walking around the stadium, I could see that parking and multiple modes of transportation make access to the stadium top-notch.  Fans can take the light rail, metro buses or drive and park from between $5-$40, depending on how close you are to the stadium.

Return on Investment:  4

An experience at Minute Maid Park is definitely worth the investment.  The atmosphere is extremely fan-friendly and works for anyone, whether you are a family of five and looking to take the kids to their first ball game or you are a businessman or woman taking your client out for earn respect.  The Astros are always running incentives for all so why not capitalize on them?

Etc: 0

No additional points.