Minute Maid Park Mixed-Use Development

[ChannelTwoNews]

1 hour ago, Houston19514 said:

What is this?

I think a reference to Oxy's patch sponsorship on Astros uniforms.

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/02/10/houston-astros-oxy-jersey-patch-deal.html

[j_cuevas713]

9 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Well $50 million from Oxy for Boy Scout badges won’t hurt. 

Those things are ugly af 

Edited February 14, 2023 by j_cuevas713

[shasta]

On 2/11/2023 at 5:39 PM, hindesky said:

"Astros owner Jim Crane has plans to build an extensive entertainment district around the ballpark."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/houston-eado-new-developments-businesses-2023-17776581.php

They continue to speak in riddles, about this project.

We have nothing definitive that tells us this project is actually happening. Nothing!

Crane has the money and the blocks to do this, and has for years, yet we've yet to see a single rendering or master plan- even if the rendering is very schematic. He even talked about how desperate we need this district after we played @ Atlanta in the 2021 WS.

Even the Texan's NcNair family released renderings and a master plan for their fake project in Uptown!

That's the one, and only thing, the McNairs have done better than Crane, release a fake rendering.

[hbg.50]

6 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Those things are ugly af 

Yeah I’m not happy about that, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised after the Crawford Street outfield wall was polluted with advertising and “community” outreach signage.  The Yankees we are NOT!  Surprised though to read the Red Sox struck a similar deal…

3 hours ago, shasta said:

They continue to speak in riddles, about this project.

We have nothing definitive that tells us this project is actually happening. Nothing!

Crane has the money and the blocks to do this, and has for years, yet we've yet to see a single rendering or master plan- even if the rendering is very schematic. He even talked about how desperate we need this district after we played @ Atlanta in the 2021 WS.

Even the Texan's NcNair family released renderings and a master plan for their fake project in Uptown!

That's the one, and only thing, the McNairs have done better than Crane, release a fake rendering.

Are you an Astros season ticket holder?  Where is your sense of entitlement coming from?  Has Hakeem Olajuwon done anything with that decrepit building he owns near the ballpark?

[j_cuevas713]

6 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

Yeah I’m not happy about that, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised after the Crawford Street outfield wall was polluted with advertising and “community” outreach signage.  The Yankees we are NOT!  Surprised though to read the Red Sox struck a similar deal…

Are you an Astros season ticket holder?  Where is your sense of entitlement coming from?  Has Hakeem Olajuwon done anything with that decrepit building he owns near the ballpark?

Which one does Hakeem own? 

[Houston19514]

34 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

Yeah I’m not happy about that, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised after the Crawford Street outfield wall was polluted with advertising and “community” outreach signage.  The Yankees we are NOT!  Surprised though to read the Red Sox struck a similar deal…

I've never understood the "outrage" over the advertising on the Crawford Street outfield (the proceeds of which, it bears repeating, go to community charities).  Why do people pretend that other ballparks are not covered in advertising, especially in the outfields (and, yes, that include the Yankee Stadium)?  Oh, and, if they haven't done so yet, you can also expect the Yankees to be signing a jersey patch sponsor agreement.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Houston19514

[hbg.50]

32 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Which one does Hakeem own? 

I guess he sold it to Tillman Fertitta.

For years, Hakeem Olajuwon wasn't particularly known for making the assist. The 7-foot Houston Rockets center spent much of his court time in the low post, waiting for teammates to deliver him the ball.

But after 17 seasons in the NBA and with an eye more on future enterprises than his scoring average, Olajuwon is extolling the virtues of teamwork on and off the court as he looks to beef up what's already a substantial real estate holding.

Indeed, Olajuwon has accumulated — and routinely sold for a tidy profit — a host of high-profile properties in the Houston area in recent years. While critics have blasted him for failing to develop the prime tracts, Olajuwon defends his position as a businessman as if he were describing a game-play strategy.

"What I've learned about real estate is to specialize, and do what it is you do best," he said. "You create an opportunity, and you pass the ball to the next guy to finish it. It's called an assist."

In his most recent real estate play, the ball was passed to Tilman Fertitta, chairman of Landry's Seafood Restaurants.

Fertitta is now under contract to purchase the World Trade Center building located across from the Houston Astros' Enron Field for an estimated $8.5 million. Olajuwon acquired the 40-year-old facility in 1999, and the Houston restaurateur is currently conducting due diligence on the property, which he plans to redevelop into a hotel.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2001/02/19/No-Topic-Name/Big-Man-In-Houston-Real-Estate.aspx

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by steve1363

[j_cuevas713]

40 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

I guess he sold it to Tillman Fertitta.

For years, Hakeem Olajuwon wasn't particularly known for making the assist. The 7-foot Houston Rockets center spent much of his court time in the low post, waiting for teammates to deliver him the ball.

But after 17 seasons in the NBA and with an eye more on future enterprises than his scoring average, Olajuwon is extolling the virtues of teamwork on and off the court as he looks to beef up what's already a substantial real estate holding.

Indeed, Olajuwon has accumulated — and routinely sold for a tidy profit — a host of high-profile properties in the Houston area in recent years. While critics have blasted him for failing to develop the prime tracts, Olajuwon defends his position as a businessman as if he were describing a game-play strategy.

"What I've learned about real estate is to specialize, and do what it is you do best," he said. "You create an opportunity, and you pass the ball to the next guy to finish it. It's called an assist."

In his most recent real estate play, the ball was passed to Tilman Fertitta, chairman of Landry's Seafood Restaurants.

Fertitta is now under contract to purchase the World Trade Center building located across from the Houston Astros' Enron Field for an estimated $8.5 million. Olajuwon acquired the 40-year-old facility in 1999, and the Houston restaurateur is currently conducting due diligence on the property, which he plans to redevelop into a hotel.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2001/02/19/No-Topic-Name/Big-Man-In-Houston-Real-Estate.aspx

 

Oh yeah he sold that a long time ago. This is the site today as a Westin hotel. 

[hbg.50]

15 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

I've never understood the "outrage" over the advertising on the Crawford Street outfield (the proceeds of which, it bears repeating, go to community charities).  Why do people pretend that other ballparks are not covered in advertising, especially in the outfields (and, yes, that include the Yankee Stadium)?  Oh, and, if they haven't done so yet, you can also expect the Yankees to be signing a jersey patch sponsor agreement.

I don't lose sleep over it but surely you would admit the stadium looks better without all the clutter.  It's gotten marginally better since 2014.  I don't really care what other stadiums do.

[hbg.50]

This is the view from 2022

[Naviguessor]

Putting Big Signs there is the equivalent of placing a large piece of furniture in front of a window in a house.    

[nate4l1f3]

20 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

I've never understood the "outrage" over the advertising on the Crawford Street outfield (the proceeds of which, it bears repeating, go to community charities).  Why do people pretend that other ballparks are not covered in advertising, especially in the outfields (and, yes, that include the Yankee Stadium)?  Oh, and, if they haven't done so yet, you can also expect the Yankees to be signing a jersey patch sponsor agreement.

Well, we know what it looked like before all that signage for one thing. Also, most people on this forum care about design and architecture and when the stadium was built this certainly wasn’t the vision. It looks like a mess. 

[Houston19514]

6 hours ago, steve1363 said:

 I don't really care what other stadiums do.

And yet you felt compelled to say we’re not the Yankees (when the Yankees have more ads inn their outfield than we do).

3 hours ago, Naviguessor said:

Putting Big Signs there is the equivalent of placing a large piece of furniture in front of a window in a house.    

Clearly, putting them in front of the retractable glass wall was a mistake, and the Astros obviously realized that very quickly.  Once they were moved down, they are not very obtrusive; one almost has to look for them -- still less clutter than most (or at worst, no more than) other MLB outfields.

Edited February 15, 2023 by Houston19514

[TheSirDingle]

You know I wouldn't mind if neo-gothic, or art-deco skyscrapers (even Italian renaissance) came back into style. Maybe something like a combination of the modern glass architecture going up and the more ornamental styles mentioned? I wonder if we can convince Crane to build something like the Woolworth building. 

[hbg.50]

6 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

And yet you felt compelled to say we’re not the Yankees (when the Yankees have more ads inn their outfield than we do).

Are you a baseball fan?  I mentioned the Yankees in reference to the Astros putting “OXY” on their uniforms.  The Yankees pinstripe home uniforms are iconic and they don’t tamper with the design.  They could pollute them with advertising but I don’t see that happening…just like their stadium remains Yankee Stadium.

You are entitled to a different opinion.  I’m a lifelong Astros fan but I’m not blind! 😂

[mattyt36]

11 hours ago, steve1363 said:

Are you a baseball fan?  I mentioned the Yankees in reference to the Astros putting “OXY” on their uniforms.  The Yankees pinstripe home uniforms are iconic and they don’t tamper with the design.  They could pollute them with advertising but I don’t see that happening…just like their stadium remains Yankee Stadium.

You are entitled to a different opinion.  I’m a lifelong Astros fan but I’m not blind! 😂

Hmmmmmm, well, wonder what gives them the luxury to make such a "principled" decision?  The answer is eluding me, even though I think it should be rather obvious . . . 

[Houston19514]

12 hours ago, steve1363 said:

Are you a baseball fan?  I mentioned the Yankees in reference to the Astros putting “OXY” on their uniforms.  The Yankees pinstripe home uniforms are iconic and they don’t tamper with the design.  They could pollute them with advertising but I don’t see that happening…just like their stadium remains Yankee Stadium.

You are entitled to a different opinion.  I’m a lifelong Astros fan but I’m not blind! 😂

As I mentioned earlier, the Yankees are indeed looking for jersey patch sponsors.

 https://yanksgoyard.com/2022/07/22/yankees-jersey-sleeve-patch-advertising-2023/

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/new-york-yankees-begin-search-for-jersey-patch-sponsor-per-report/3774903/

https://www.legendsinternational.com/legends-news/forbes-new-york-yankees-working-with-legends-in-search-for-inaugural-jersey-patch-sponsor

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwju9dm_u5r9AhU1MDQIHaZXBCUQFnoECEUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Ftimcasey%2F2022%2F07%2F14%2Fnew-york-yankees-working-with-legends-in-search-for-inaugural-jersey-patch-sponsor%2F&usg=AOvVaw0tK7Tr4VRGJ2NWyC8ElZp7

Edited February 16, 2023 by Houston19514

[hbg.50]

18 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

As I mentioned earlier, the Yankees are indeed looking for jersey patch sponsors.

 https://yanksgoyard.com/2022/07/22/yankees-jersey-sleeve-patch-advertising-2023/

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/new-york-yankees-begin-search-for-jersey-patch-sponsor-per-report/3774903/

https://www.legendsinternational.com/legends-news/forbes-new-york-yankees-working-with-legends-in-search-for-inaugural-jersey-patch-sponsor

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwju9dm_u5r9AhU1MDQIHaZXBCUQFnoECEUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Ftimcasey%2F2022%2F07%2F14%2Fnew-york-yankees-working-with-legends-in-search-for-inaugural-jersey-patch-sponsor%2F&usg=AOvVaw0tK7Tr4VRGJ2NWyC8ElZp7

So there you have it!  Even the Yankees will succumb to the mighty dollar at the expense of tradition!  ☹️

[Houston19514]

58 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

So there you have it!  Even the Yankees will succumb to the mighty dollar at the expense of tradition!  ☹️

Ya think?   😉

[shasta]

On 2/16/2023 at 11:59 AM, Houston19514 said:

Ya think?   😉

but they will NEVER put a patch on their jersey.

I'm a huge fan of the Houston Astros organization but the OXY patch is a bad move.

[Houston19514]

34 minutes ago, shasta said:

but they will NEVER put a patch on their jersey.

I'm a huge fan of the Houston Astros organization but the OXY patch is a bad move.

Are you sure about that?  

It seems the Yankees are indeed looking for jersey patch sponsors (as I showed three posts above yours).

 https://yanksgoyard.com/2022/07/22/yankees-jersey-sleeve-patch-advertising-2023/

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/new-york-yankees-begin-search-for-jersey-patch-sponsor-per-report/3774903/

https://www.legendsinternational.com/legends-news/forbes-new-york-yankees-working-with-legends-in-search-for-inaugural-jersey-patch-sponsor

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwju9dm_u5r9AhU1MDQIHaZXBCUQFnoECEUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Ftimcasey%2F2022%2F07%2F14%2Fnew-york-yankees-working-with-legends-in-search-for-inaugural-jersey-patch-sponsor%2F&usg=AOvVaw0tK7Tr4VRGJ2NWyC8ElZp7

Edited February 20, 2023 by Houston19514

[nate4l1f3]

“The development will include a high-end, 4-star hotel, but the team has yet to secure a brand for the hotel, Crane said. The entertainment district is slated to include restaurants and an indoor tailgating area that can be used year-round. It will also include a walkway above the street, which will take guests directly to the club level of the ballpark. 

The organization has hired an architecture firm and construction company for the project, Crane said, but the team did not confirm which companies it's working with prior to publication. Crane said the organization hopes to break ground on the project following the conclusion of the Astros’ season and that it could take about three years to complete. He added that the team might build the development in phases, with some parts of the entertainment district opening sooner than others”

[bookey23]

Finally!

[kennyc05]

This is great news I'm ready for the renderings!

[BEES?!]

FINALLY, YES!

[tigereye]

The hopeful fall 2023 ground breaking tells me they’re trying build in time to open for the World Cup. 
 

I hope it’s completed in time host. It would be another amenity to offer visitors. 

 

Speaking of: Downtown is going to be LIT next weekend. Final Four Fan Fest and March Madness Music Festival at GRBCC/Discovery Green, and 2 blocks away, MLB Opening Weekend celebrating the World Series Championship at Minute Maid Park. It’s like a preview to 2026

Edited March 24, 2023 by tigereye

[kennyc05]

2 hours ago, tigereye said:

The hopeful fall 2023 ground breaking tells me they’re trying build in time to open for the World Cup. 
 

I hope it’s completed in time host. It would be another amenity to offer visitors. 

 

Speaking of: Downtown is going to be LIT next weekend. Final Four Fan Fest and March Madness Music Festival at GRBCC/Discovery Green, and 2 blocks away, MLB Opening Weekend celebrating the World Series Championship at Minute Maid Park. It’s like a preview to 2026

I think the McDonald's all American game will be at Toyota Center too.

[HtownWxBoy]

Another amazing addition to Downtown! 🙂

[phillip_white]

19 hours ago, nate4l1f3 said:

“The development will include a high-end, 4-star hotel, but the team has yet to secure a brand for the hotel, Crane said. The entertainment district is slated to include restaurants and an indoor tailgating area that can be used year-round. It will also include a walkway above the street, which will take guests directly to the club level of the ballpark. 

The organization has hired an architecture firm and construction company for the project, Crane said, but the team did not confirm which companies it's working with prior to publication. Crane said the organization hopes to break ground on the project following the conclusion of the Astros’ season and that it could take about three years to complete. He added that the team might build the development in phases, with some parts of the entertainment district opening sooner than others”

[nate4l1f3]

Does anyone have any opinions about the above street walkway mentioned in the article? My first thought was an indoor sky bridge like the others downtown but is that really necessary? I wouldn’t want anything added to the stadium that would mess up the aesthetics and the original design. Thoughts?