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UltimateHog 
Arkansas Fan
Springfield, MO
Member since Dec 2011
17525 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 6:33 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler)
Yes, I have been to 2 games at Minute Maid, well one was Enron Field. 
To me, it being ranked 20th in the MLB is about right.
Not unbelievably bad, but in the bottom tier.
All of you Houston fans homering it to be way better than it is, is pretty funny.
It is not better than PNC, Wrigley, Fenway, Busch, AT&T, Target, Citizens Bank, Camden Yards, Safeco, Petco, Yankee Stadium, Kauffman, Citi, Marlins Park, Comerica, Coors, Angel Stadium, or Rangers Park.
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HT713 
USA Fan
naF ASU
Member since Jan 2011
8590 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 6:37 pm to UltimateHog)
quote:
It is not better than PNC, Wrigley, Fenway, Busch, AT&T, Target, Citizens Bank, Camden Yards, Safeco, Petco, Yankee Stadium, Kauffman, Citi, Marlins Park, Comerica, Coors, Angel Stadium, or Rangers Park.
damn you've been to a ton of stadiums
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PortCityTiger24 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Member since Dec 2006
57826 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 6:37 pm to HT713)
quote:
springfield, MO
Bass Pro reppin
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ShaneTheLegLechler 
Oklahoma State Fan
Member since Dec 2011
6779 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 6:43 pm to UltimateHog)
quote:
Enron
lulz
quote:
To me, it being ranked 20th in the MLB is about right.
I said it was middle of the pack, so I'm not really putting it that far above you. I've been to almost every park you named, and I agree on most of them. I definitely don't on Ballpark in Arlington simply because of the weather. That place needs to be closed, there's a reason why Minute Maid is.
I haven't been to Marlins Park yet, but it does not look like my cup of tea. I don't think of turquoise rotating sculptures as appealing in baseball stadiums, and the place just looks tacky on TV.
Being a closed in stadium takes away from Minute Maid's feel and atmosphere in my opinion, but it's absolutely necessary with the weather here. That's my biggest complaint, baseball is meant to be played in an open outdoor stadium under the lights, but it just isn't feasible in some places. The architecture is a restored train station, I like it. That's kind of an opinion thing though. I've sat in basically every section and never had a problem with sight lines.
This post was edited on 5/8 at 6:45 pm
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Buckeye Fan 19 
Notre Dame Fan
South Bend, IN
Member since Dec 2007
34908 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 6:53 pm to StraightCashHomey21)
quote:
PNC
Heinz Field
Consol Energy
Yeah, as much as I hate to admit, Pittsburgh's definitely up there.
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Patton 
Alabama Fan
Off Hackberry
Member since Apr 2011
5737 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:10 pm to DrGarth)
quote:
Boston
Truth
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UltimateHog
Arkansas Fan
Springfield, MO
Member since Dec 2011
17525 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:11 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler)
quote:
The architecture is a restored train station, I like it.
I don't mind that part, I just mind the hill and the Crawford Boxes. I find those be 2 absolutely terrible designs that greatly effect the play on the field.
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Unbiased Bama Fan
Member since Dec 2011
2950 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:14 pm to Buckeye Fan 19)
quote:
Yeah, as much as I hate to admit, Pittsburgh's definitely up there.
Heinz Field is ugly as frick though and their field can be a mess at times. Remember that abortion of a game against the Dolphins in MNF a few years ago? It's ironic that the city of Pittsburgh built a crown jewel of a ballpark for the horrible Pirates and a very mediocre stadium for the 6x Super Bowl Champion Steelers.
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ShaneTheLegLechler
Oklahoma State Fan
Member since Dec 2011
6779 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:15 pm to UltimateHog)
quote:
I just mind the hill and the Crawford Boxes. I find those be 2 absolutely terrible designs that greatly effect the play on the field
I agree the hill is kind of stupid. I love the Crawford Boxes as actual seats. They are fantastic to sit in and watch the game from. I don't care all that much that they effect the play, its not like the Crawford Boxes is the only short porch in MLB and I'm glad Minute Maid isn't some cookie cutter design in terms of dimensions.
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ulsaint
Member since Oct 2007
259 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:18 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler)
I'm kind of meh on Houston's stadiums.
The atmosphere in Reliant sucks ass. That terrible Houston Texans "First Down" shite is very amateurish and bush league. The entire atmosphere feels forced and corporate imo.
Minute Maid is ok. Definitely not as nice as PNC, which is the best MLB stadium I've been to.
Toyota Center is just another arena imo.
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HT713
USA Fan
naF ASU
Member since Jan 2011
8590 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:20 pm to ulsaint)
quote:
The atmosphere in Reliant sucks ass.
I think you would rethink that if you went back there now that the Texans are a half decent football team.
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ShaneTheLegLechler
Oklahoma State Fan
Member since Dec 2011
6779 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:21 pm to ulsaint)
quote:
The atmosphere in Reliant sucks ass.
It was absolutely insane most of this season and for the playoff game.
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UltimateHog
Arkansas Fan
Springfield, MO
Member since Dec 2011
17525 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:24 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler)
quote:
I'm glad Minute Maid isn't some cookie cutter design in terms of dimensions.
Yeah instead of cookie cutter, it's wtf were they thinking dimensions.
315 feet to Left is a complete joke for a Major League stadium.
Tropicana has the same stupid shite for dimensions in Left as well, and it's right there for worst MLB ballpark.
I don't like seeing cheap easy homeruns to pad stats like the Crawford Boxes provide, or the RF line in Yankee Stadium (314ft).
This post was edited on 5/8 at 7:26 pm
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Klark Kent 
LSU Fan
wearing no undershirt
Member since Jan 2008
33823 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:33 pm to barry)
quote:
Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US?
Nope it doesn't.
InB4Mattz&PortCity
But I generally think all of the Houston Sports Arenas are exceptionally nice. Especially the new Dynami Arena, Toyota Center, and Reliant.
I'd put Dallas, NY, Denver, and Phoenix ahead of Houston.
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thenry712 
Gonzaga Fan
Hullywood, UK
Member since Nov 2008
13795 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 7:50 pm to Klark Kent)
The main complaint I have with Minute Made is the terribly cramped concourses.
I saw a couple of college basketball games at the Toyota Center, and it was the most boring and sterile stadium from an aesthetic standpoint. I actually enjoyed my time as a kid watching baseball in the Astrodome. There was always a novelty about the whole feel of the dome.
LA's sports facilities are also pretty nice.
Staples Center
Dodger Stadium is classic
I guess you could also throw in the Orange County facilities if you want
Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver adds to their case.
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Hulk Hogan
LSU Fan
Miami, Florida
Member since Jun 2008
1860 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 8:02 pm to thenry712)
The good thing about Houston is that all the sports facilities are in the city and all within five miles. (Toyota Center, MM, & BBVA , all in downtown )
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GynoSandberg 
Clemson Fan
Member since Jan 2006
26655 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 8:03 pm to Hulk Hogan)
Let's laugh at Bleacher Report and trust the Houstards on the MSB.
Makes perfect sense!
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HT713
USA Fan
naF ASU
Member since Jan 2011
8590 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 8:10 pm to GynoSandberg)
quote:
the Houstards
would be an awesome name for my Girl Talk cover band...
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Souljah 
Southern Cal Fan
Audubon Park VIA Kingston,Jamaica
Member since Apr 2012
4269 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 8:15 pm to AMM AU9893)
quote:
Phoenix competes
Came in to say this
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arwicklu
Alabama Fan
Houston, TX
Member since Jan 2008
6307 posts
| re: Does Houston have the nicest pro sports facilites in the US? (Posted on 5/8/12 at 8:22 pm to GynoSandberg)
Reliant and Toyota center are both quite nice. All of the stadiums are fairly new so they all are quite nice. I don't know if they're the best in the country, however they're all very nice. People go a bit nuts defending their city or bashing others. Many of these cities have incredible venues.
The problem I have with both Reliant and Minute Maid is that the tend to shut the roof even when the weather is perfect. Both of the stadiums are much nicer when the roof is open. Reliant seems to shut the roof unless the weather is between 79 and 80 degrees with a chance of angels landing on the field.
Minute Maid has goofy dimensions. From a fan perspective I still think the stadium is quite nice. If you removed the hill, then most people wouldn't bash it so much. The Crawford Boxes sometimes get a bunt for a homerun but there are quite a few stadiums now that are built for increased offense. It isn't like the park factor for home runs in Houston is off the charts. They're sitting at 11 right now. They're usually somewhere around 8 to 12 at the end of the year.
I like watching a game with the roof open in Minute Maid. It feels somewhat dark and stuffy with the roof closed but I suppose dark and stuffy is ok to go to the bar in left field. I do think they should have kept the roof closed for the playoff games a few years back because the crowd was so loud, however that was a Selig thing.
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