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| Houston Astros Minute Maid Park This downtown stadium puts the team closer to the center of the region's population, and the classical architecture, natural grass and retractable roof make it a pleasant place to watch a game. On May 20, 1996, a special sports task force recommended that Houston and Harris County spend $625 million to build a new baseball stadium and a new downtown basketball arena, and refit the Astrodome for football and the rodeo. The $65 million retractable roof, will open and close quietly in less than 20 minutes at an energy cost of about $6 dollars per usage (2004). Minute Maid Park features the world's largest sliding glass door - a 50,000-square-foot wall of glass (both hurricane and baseball resistant) - in left field to give the stadium an outdoor feel even when the roof is closed. On April 7, 1999, Houston-based Enron Corporation agreed to pay more than $100 million over 30 years to name the stadium Enron Field. However, on December 2, 2001 Enron became the largest corporation in history to declare bankruptcy. |
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