the astros post.
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This is where the whole "Crush City" thing comes in. If you haven't been religiously following the Astros your entire life (then, first of all, what exactly have you been doing with your life?!), here's the SparkNotes version. The Astros were somewhere between very mediocre and pretty good for a long long time. In 2005, with the help of the legendary Killer B's, they got really good and went to the World Series for the first time ever, where they were swept by the White Sox, but nonetheless, the entire city of Houston collectively went absolutely insane. Watching the 2005 NLCS (and then attempting to buy t-shirts at Academy at midnight along with what I'm pretty sure was the entire population of the suburb I grew up in) is one of my favorite childhood memories. Rappers wrote songs about it. Then there were some dark years we don't talk about. We'll call those "rebuilding" years. This is a fun baseball euphemism for "we traded away literally ALL of our good players, but our farm system is really good, I promise!" I actually still haven't fully recovered from the tragic Hunter Pence trade of 2011. Finally, in 2015, the Astros were officially good again. Although they sadly lost in postseason to the Kansas City Royals, eventual World Series Champions, the team hit a combined 230 home runs on the season (in baseball terms, this is considered "a lot"). Thus, the nickname CRUSH CITY was born (and continues to be accurate). Rappers, once again, wrote songs about it (this is probably the greatest song I have ever heard). Anyway, going to Astros games has been one of my favorite things to do in Houston since I was old enough to understand the rules of baseball, and continues to be to this day.
I'm almost hesitant to share with you my insider knowledge of how to have the best possible experience attending an Astros game (only sort of kidding). If you didn't loyally suffer through 2011-2013, you don't deserve to enjoy this! (Okay that time I was mostly kidding). This information was gathered through extensive research at over thirty games in the past two seasons alone. The Astros are currently in the midst of their best season ever (by far), so if there was ever a time to jump on the bandwagon, it is, like, yesterday.
Before & after the game - Weekday games are usually at 7:10, so I generally head to the stadium right after work and don't stick around long afterwards. On weekends, however, there's plenty of time to pregame, so to speak. Jackson Street BBQ, located in a bright red building next door to Minute Maid Park, is a solid dinner option. Osso & Kristalla, a brand new Italian restaurant owned by Astros owner Jim Crane, is a fun spot to grab a drink. I'm also a huge fan of 8th Wonder Brewery, which is technically within walking distance if the weather is decent and you feel comfortable walking under highway 59. If you're looking to go out after the game, EaDo (are we really calling it that?) is close by, or you could walk to Main Street. My go-to is Conservatory, because you can get beer AND crepes. I've also been known to go for postgame coffee at Tout Suite following Sunday afternoon games.
Parking - I know parking downtown is usually a miserable experience, but don’t stress out about parking for Astros games. It can be done. Street parking is free after 6 and all day Sunday. If you get there early enough/look hard enough/are willing to walk a little bit, you can probably find a spot (especially Monday-Thursday, when attendance is lower). There are also tons of cash lots close by, most of them around $10.
Tickets - I have a 15 game mini season ticket package, but when I want individual game tickets I buy them on the Ballpark app, StubHub, or at the door (would not recommend that option). Prices vary depending on the seats (obviously), but also sometimes on the game. I’ve seen them as low as $14 (before the ridiculous "fees" that are added on for no apparent reason) for standing room only/those horrible seats down the left field line where you can’t see the entire field. The best view you can get in the cheap seats is section 419, way up high but right behind home plate. It can also be fun to stand under the archways between the Crawford Boxes and the gas pump, or up on the new Budweiser area in center field if you can find a spot - these areas are basically a free-for-all. I like to move around (pro tip: they don’t really check tickets, especially late in the game). If you walk like you know where you're going, you can get away with sitting almost anywhere.
Me, doing exactly what I just told you not to do, on a recent trip to DC.
Our faces after a WALK-OFF WIN OVER TORONTO! Thankful for friends who understand the importance of never leaving games early.
They put you on the screen and tell you to smile and clap, and of course I made it awkward, because I make everything awkward
Things to know
Don’t do the wave. Please. Just don’t.
It is, however, acceptable (and encouraged), to yell “woo!” when Josh Reddick is batting. Or any other time, because it’s fun.
Houston fans (for all sports, not just baseball) are generally known to be pretty nice. So be nice.
Okay, I admit, I am guilty of this…but don’t be that person who wears another team’s apparel to the game. (For example, do not, under any circumstances, wear Rangers gear to an Astros game unless (a) the Astros are playing the Rangers and (b) you are actually a Rangers fan).
Also, don't be a Rangers fan.
Pay attention to Orbit’s shenanigans...it’s hilarious. If you get there early enough for warmups, watch him (her?) mess with the opposing team.
Don't leave early! As a personal rule I never leave games early, no matter what the score is, because anything can happen! Also I just love baseball. But I mean, you do you.
The roof - the roof is only open when there's no chance of rain and/or it's not 1000 degrees outside. I don't think it's been open since early May (open roof makes for way better Instagram pics though).
StubHub Move of the Game - this is more of a fun story/brag about me than an actual tip, but every game two "lucky fans" are "taken from the cheap seats" to the Club Level...and at a game in 2016 I was one of them! As far as I can tell, the trick to getting picked for this is to happen to be walking by the entrance to the Club Level at the escalator landing on the left field side at just the right time (a few minutes before first pitch) and to be clearly in a group of two.
Had to get me a helmet sundae for the last home game of 2016, obviously.
This was $17 but TREAT YO SELF
Last year, after George Springer apparently hit a baseball into the oil that they fry the funnel cakes in, they came out with this marketing gimmick. It's essentially a regular funnel cake with a scoop of ice cream on it, but more expensive. And it was absolutely fantastic.
Food & beverages - I’ve tried to cut back on how much food I buy at Astros games because...it’s expensive. Also, you are allowed to bring your own food and water into the stadium but I never remember to do this. That being said, here are your best bets.
Every Wednesday is dollar hot dog night, which is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s glorious. Pro tip: getting hot dogs (or anything, for that matter) from the regular food vendors can be agonizingly slow. On Wednesdays, there are cash-only hot dog stands that are much more efficient.
Shake Shack - Minute Maid Park now has a Shake Shack, new for 2017! It’s located on the bottom level in center field. The line is predictably long majority of the time, but it moves relatively quickly, and the prices are approximately comparable to a regular Shake Shack, so you don’t feel like you’re getting totally ripped off.
Torchy’s - Torchy’s is another new addition for 2017, located at the top of the Torchy’s Party Deck in center field. It’s a fun place to watch the game from, but I haven’t actually patronized it yet because (a) it’s probably double the price of a regular Torchy’s (b) every time I’ve been by, the line has been long and (c) unpopular opinion that will probably lose me readers on this blog...I’m not a huge fan of Torchy’s. But if you love Torchy’s, by all means, go for it.
Classic ballpark food - available all over the park and expensive. But I mean...it’s pretty good. Some days I really want chicken fingers.
Chick-Fil-A - available at several stands throughout the park.
Ice cream - the only acceptable way to eat ice cream at MMP is Blue Bell out of a plastic helmet or Orbit-shaped bowl. Ice cream stands are located all over.
Beer - beer is available everywhere, but if you are picky, you might have to go to specific locations to find what you want. There’s a Saint Arnold booth on the bottom level behind the Crawford Boxes with a good selection (it serves some of the cheaper brands as well), and a Karbach booth on the top level right by the escalators. In other new 2017 additions, an extensive beer selection is available at the party deck area in center field, and there is essentially a convenience store at the bottom of the escalator that sells beer as well.
Liquor - you can buy liquor, and even get it in a fun plastic Astros mason jar or copper mug (for $17+), if you know where to go. I found some at a small booth on the bottom level on the third base side.
Special events - there is some kind of special event or promotion going on at over half of the games each year. These are some of my favorites.
Dollar hot dog night - exactly what it sounds like, every Wednesday, and amazing (see above).
Friday Night Fireworks - also exactly what it sounds like, and every Friday after the game, win or lose. There's usually a fun theme too! My favorite this year has been "90's Tribute"...an actually impressive fireworks display set to the Backstreet Boys and my personal favorite, "All Star"...what could be better than that?!
Bobblehead nights - bobblehead giveaways usually occur on Saturdays and are free to the first 10,000 guests (check the Astros website for dates). Depending on the player, people line up crazy early for these. I'd recommend getting there at least an hour before gates open if you want one.
Star Wars/Game of Thrones Night - this year, the Astros hosted a Star Wars night AND a Game of Thrones night, and everything was decked out in the respective theme. There were bobbleheads, but you had to buy a special ticket package. This year, the Game of Thrones bobblehead was Chris Devenski RIDING A DRAGON...but the ticket package tragically sold out before I had a chance to buy it. Maybe next year. The Star Wars bobblehead this year was "Return of the Beltran" themed...clever, but I am still not completely sold on Carlos Beltran being back, so I opted to save my money and get a regular ticket for that one.
Baseball on Tap - my favorite event of the year, hands down. For about $40, you get a ticket, plus access to the event before the game. Four beer samples and one full beer of your choice (it's sponsored by Budweiser, so their acquisition of Karbach, regardless of your stance on that, drastically improved the quality of the beer options this year), plus you get a fun Astros pint glass! We went to a similar event but with wine last year and also had a great time.
From Star Wars Night 2016. Now prominently displayed in my living room.
Baseball on Tap...hands down my favorite event of the year. Photo booth with giant Dallas Keuchel emoji face!? YES.
Gotta take pics with alllll the murals, duh.
I realize a lot of this information isn't really applicable right now, seeing as the season is almost over, but take advantage of this opportunity to come out and support your (#1 in the AL, nbd) Houston Astros before postseason starts!
<3 liz
Opening Day 2017 from the nosebleeds!
