Minute Maid Park memorabilia hits the auction block but not for long

HOUSTON — Astros fans now have the opportunity to own a piece of team history as the organization auctions off signage and memorabilia from the former Minute Maid Park branding.

The auction includes exterior signs, upper concourse logo signs, and even decorative oranges from the iconic home run train. It’s all part of the transition to Daikin Park, the stadium’s new name under a 15-season naming rights deal with Daikin Comfort Technologies, an air conditioning company.

• Astros are auctioning signs and memorabilia from Minute Maid Park
• Items include signage and oranges from the home run train
• More than 20 items are up for auction
• Auction is live until April 27 on astros.auctions.mlb.com

The auction is currently live at astros.auctions.mlb.com and will remain open through April 27. Despite just opening this week, many items have already received bids exceeding $1,000.

The sign change began in February, when workers started removing the familiar Minute Maid Park signage from the stadium’s exterior. Fans gathered outside the ballpark that day, some expressing nostalgia for what they considered an iconic era.

“Minute Maid is iconic. For the next couple of years, it’ll always be Minute Maid to me,” Collyn Davis told KHOU 11. “I’ve seen so much history here. I’ve been coming here since I was maybe 6 years old, 5 years old. I’ve been to multiple World Series games, playoff games.”

Others, like Raul Escobedo, said they welcomed the change with mixed feelings. “It’s a little bittersweet… but it’s also exciting that there’s going to be some new changes happening with the park and the Astros.”

This marks the third time the downtown Houston ballpark has changed names. Originally called Enron Field when it opened in 2000, it was briefly renamed Astros Field in 2002 following the collapse of Enron. Later that same year, the team entered into a naming rights agreement with Minute Maid, a Coca-Cola brand.

The ballpark, inspired by Houston’s industrial and railroad history, features unique design elements including a replica 19th-century locomotive, Union Station lobby pieces at the entrance, and the Crawford Boxes in left field. Its retractable roof, among the largest in the league, opens or closes in 12 to 20 minutes.

With a seating capacity of more than 41,000, Daikin Park remains one of Major League Baseball’s most recognizable venues, and now fans have the chance to bring home a physical piece of its past.

Here is a list of what is being auctioned on the official Astros auction site:

• “Mi” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros01

• “nu” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros02

• “te” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros03

• “M” Sign Letter – Reference ID: astros04

• “ai” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros05

• “d” Sign Letter – Reference ID: astros06

• “M” Sign Letter – Reference ID: astros15

• “in” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros16

• “u” Sign Letter – Reference ID: astros17

• “te” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros18

• “M” Sign Letter – Reference ID: astros19

• “ai” Sign Letters – Reference ID: astros20

• “d” Sign Letter – Reference ID: astros21

• Logo Sign – Union Station Atrium (1 of 2) – Reference ID: astros07

• Logo Sign – Center Field Gate – Reference ID: astros08

• Logo Sign – Home Plate South Gate – Reference ID: astros09

• Logo Sign – First Base & Media Entrance – Reference ID: astros10

• Train Oranges & Lady Bug (1 of 1) – Reference ID: astros11

• Train Metal Sign (1 of 1) – Reference ID: astros12

• Logo Sign – Upper Concourse – Reference ID: astros13

• Logo Sign – Upper Concourse – Reference ID: astros14