Also question is, why do the Astros have a hill in center field?
When Minute Maid Park first opened in 2000, it included the man-made hill at the suggestion of Tal Smith. Smith, who was an Astros executive at the time, noted that the hill could be an homage to early 20th century ballparks such as Crosley Field and to bygone features such as Duffy's Cliff at Fenway Park.
Also Know, is Tal's Hill still there? Tal's Hill, the object of great polarization among baseball fans, is no longer a hill the Jim Crane is willing to die on.
Similarly, it is asked, when did Houston get rid of the hill in center field?
In June 2015 the Astros announced Tal's Hill would be removed in a major renovation project during the 2015-2016 offseason, to be replaced with additional seating, concessions, and escalators for fans. This would result in center field dimensions of 436 feet (then the longest in MLB) being reduced to 409 feet.
Why does Minute Maid Park have a train?
It's an ode to what once sat at the ballpark's location: Union Station. When constructed in 2000, Minute Maid Park was named The Ballpark at Union Station. The actual Union Station opened in 1911. The train station served as the main terminal for Houston passengers for more than 70 years.
