Tal's Hill lives another year; center field renovations delayed at Minute Maid Park

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    TX HS Football Talk
    • Mar 2015
    • 9125

    Tal's Hill lives another year; center field renovations delayed at Minute Maid Park



    Tal's Hill will live for another year.


    The Astros announced Thursday that the center field renovations of Minute Maid Park, including the removal of Tal's Hill, will be delayed for one more season.


    That means Tal's Hill will stay through the 2016 season.


    The team said the Astros' playoff run, as well as the selection of MMP as host of an international cricket match in November, prompted the delay in plans.


    "Through the bidding process, we determined that the construction timelines to have the ballpark ready for Opening Day 2016 became too risky, and we decided it was in everyone’s best interest to postpone the renovation," Reid Ryan, Astros President of Business Operations, said. "The playing field, including Tal’s Hill, will stay the same for the 2016 season. Other potential renovations to the ballpark are being evaluated, and we will announce future plans in the coming months."


    In June, the Astros said construction on the new center field area would begin after the 2015 season and would be ready for the start of the 2016 season. Improved seating, new food and beverage items and escalators were also included in the renovation.
     
    The renovation is expected to cost around $15 million.


    The team said the design of the new center field area was influenced by feedback from fans, players and front office personnel, including executives who visited more than 20 MLB parks.


    FUN FACTS (from Astros' June press release)
    The current center field distance of 436 feet would move to 409 feet, moving Minute Maid Park from the deepest center distance to the sixth-farthest in the league.
    The seating capacity of Minute Maid Park would remain essentially the same, with improved visibility for fans to enjoy the game from center field.
    The renovation of center field would result in a total of three new bar locations, four additional food locations and a premium group seating area at field level, creating the first and only field-level seating area available at Minute Maid Park.






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