[Wattleigh]

Minute Maid Park - New Astros Team Store

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...eam-store.html

Photos: Houston Astros’ new team store now official non-game day merchandise destination

By Chandler France – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
May 1, 2023

The Houston Astros unveiled a brand-new team store at the beginning of this season, which is now the official non-game day shop for fans.

The new Center Field Team Store replaced the Union Station Team Store as the main Astros’ shop prior to games and on non-game days effective April 28, the organization announced. Now, the Union Station Team Store is only open during game days.

The new store at center field did not replace any of the existing shops at Minute Maid Park but rather expanded upon the store that was previously there. It’s just over 8,500 square feet and features 23 registers, compared to the 10 registers at the Home Plate Team Store, for example.

“The Astros are always looking for ways to invest in our fan experience,” Anita Sehgal, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Astros, said in a statement. “Demand for Astros gear — both on game days and non-game days — was the biggest influence in us investing in a larger store with easy access for fans, as well as a broad assortment.”

The center field gate has seen the largest increase in fans entering the ballpark through it, so the organizations wanted to provide fans with a convenient place to shop given the demand, Sehgal said. Additionally, the center field location allowed the team to have a fan-friendly exterior entrance and provide parking options for fans on non-game days. The Center Field Team Store is accessible on the corner of Congress Street and Crawford Street with parking available at the corner of Congress Street and Jackson Street.