Astros renaming downtown Houston ballpark
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Coming in 2025. Rendering: Courtesy of the Houston Astros
Houston's downtown ballpark will soon get a new name.
The big picture: The home of the Astros will be called Daikin Park starting in 2025, the team announced Monday.
- The 15-year deal will last through the 2039 season.
The intrigue: The Astros did not disclose financial terms or the reason for the change. Minute Maid and its parent company, Coca-Cola, had naming rights through 2029 and will continue to partner with the team, the organization said.
Catch up quick: Daikin (pronounced die-kin) is a Japanese HVAC manufacturer whose principal U.S. facility is located outside Waller, about 40 miles from the ballpark.
- The company employs nearly 10,000 people in Greater Houston and will work with the Astros to provide education and youth sports programs in underserved communities, according to the team's Monday press release.
What they're saying: "Their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros," said Matt Brand, the Astros' senior vice president for corporate partnerships. "Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come."
Flashback: In 1996, then-team owner Drayton McLane Jr. hinted at moving the franchise to another city if voters didn't approve the construction of a new ballpark, as the team had played in the Astrodome since 1965.
- Enron CEO Kenneth Lay was instrumental in keeping the Astros in town by promoting and supporting the construction of a downtown ballpark, which was approved by 51% of voters that same year. It was dubbed Enron Field in a 30-year, $100 million naming rights deal when it opened in 2000.
- When Enron imploded amid its massive accounting scandal in 2001, Coca-Cola swooped in and took over naming rights.
Between the lines: When Axios asked how much the deal cost, an Astros spokesperson said the team doesn't share financial figures of sponsorship deals.
- An influx of cash could bode well for fans in favor of the team's securing key players like Alex Bregman, whose future remains uncertain in Houston during free agency this offseason.
What's next: The first baseball game inside Daikin Park will be a preseason matchup between the Astros and the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, their Triple-A affiliate, on March 24.
- Houston starts regular-season play with a six-game homestand beginning March 27.