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Houston Astros

Texas’s first-ever professional baseball team, the Houston Astros joined MLB in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s as a nod to their state’s rough and tumble cowboy history. But it was the 1960s, and while guns were still pretty cool in Texas, outer space was far cooler. Houston was home to the Manned Space Center (“Houston, we have a problem”) and so, in honor of the space program, the baseball team was renamed the Houston Astros. The Astros played their home games in the Astrodome, the first domed stadium in the world. Dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World” at the time, the Astrodome actually pulled in fans that had more interest in seeing the dome itself than the Astros. The dome also gave birth to “AstroTurf,” the world’s first artificial turf surface and a word that would enter the English language to refer to all artificial turf. Astros fans have suffered through some truly dismal baseball over the years, but recent years have seen them become one of MLB’s most dominant teams, appearing in 4 World Series since 2017 and winning two of them! Can the Astros make it three in 2024? Get your Houston Astros tickets from TicketX today and be there to find out!

Rival Teams

Nothing gets MLB baseball fans up out of their seats like watching their team hit the diamond against a major rival. Here are two of the Houston Astros’ most significant rivalries.

Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers

Known as the Lone Star Series, the rivalry between Texas’s two MLB franchises, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers was long more theoretical than actual, due to Houston playing in the National League and Texas playing in the American League. The beginning of inter-league play in 1997 led to the first annual regular season games between the teams, with a silver cowboy boot trophy awarded to the team that won the most games. After the Astros joined the American League in 2013, and moved into the same division as the Rangers, the rivalry really kicked into high gear. With both teams quite strong in the past decade, there have been some extremely exciting division races, including in 2023 when they finished with identical regular season records (90-73). The Astros won the division on head-to-head meetings (9-4) but the Rangers got their own back in the postseason, beating the Astros in the ALCS in Game 7 en route to winning the World Series. The teams play one another 13 times in 2024, with 6 games in Houston and 7 games in Arlington/Dallas.

Houston Astros vs New York Yankees

The rivalry between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees is a relatively new one, sparked into life after the Astros moved into the American League in 2013 and quickly began to challenge the all-powerful Yankees’ status as title contenders. That said, it’s a spicy one. Both the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers were outraged in 2017 when it was discovered that the Astros had been, er, let’s say “peeking” at their signs. The animosity boiled over into several on-field incidents between the teams and their fans have been constantly at one another ever since. The Astros have had the last laugh, however, defeating the Yankees in all four of the teams’ recent playoff meetings. The two teams are set to play 7 times in 2024, with 4 games in Houston and 3 in the Big Apple.

2024 MLB Season Predictions

Which Teams Will Go To the 2024 MLB Playoffs?

There will be 12 teams who make the 2024 Playoffs: six from the American League and six from the National League. Four of the six will have to play in the Wild Card Series to try to advance to the ALDS and NLDS. Last year, the AL’s 5th-seeded Texas Rangers and the NL’s 6th-seeded Arizona Diamondbacks shocked the baseball universe by advancing to the 2023 World Series, where the Rangers defeated the Diamondbacks, 4-1.

It doesn’t seem either of those teams will get to the 2024 World Series, with traditional powerhouses like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers off to nice stars in their leagues behind Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani. And with upstart teams like the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, and Kansas City Royals in the AL and the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in the NL, there will certainly be four good teams playing in the ALCS and NLCS.

Which Two Teams Will Go To the 2024 MLB World Series and Why?

There seem to be only five teams—two from the AL and three from the NL—who could end up meeting in the 2024 World Series. The Yankees have been a pleasant surprise in the Senior Circuit, and oddsmakers at DraftKings currently have Aaron Judge and the Bronx Bombers at +600 (6/1) to win the Fall Classic, with their AL East rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, priced at +900 (9/1).

In the Junior Circuit, things should be a little bit harder with the Dodgers (3/1), Braves (4/1), and Phillies (+850). Two of these three solid teams are likely to have to go through one of the others in both the NLCS and NLCS just to get to the World Series.

With Soto playing so well in the Bronx and big bats like Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo, look for the Yankees to be in the World Series with the Orioles more talented but still very young. And despite the generational talent of the Braves and Dodgers rosters, look for the Phillies to find a way to advance in October.

Why? Philadelphia’s infield is tremendous, with Bryce Harper (1B), Bryson Stott (2B), Trea Turner (SS), and Alex Bohm (3B). With pitchers Ranger Suárez (8-0) and Aaron Nola (6-2) off to great starts, the Phillies should find a way to outscore all opponents and knock off the Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

2024 MLB World Series Prediction:

Phillies over Yankees, 4-2

How much are Houston Astros season tickets?

You can find the cheapest Houston Astros tickets starting from $6.41 at Oakland Coliseum on Jul 24 on TicketX. Prices vary depending on locations and dates, so please search for tickets based on the location and dates of games that you might be interested in attending.

Self-reported average prices of Houston Astros tickets:

Prices of Houston Astros tickets tend to vary based on the opposing team and the importance of the game to the season. As one example, we compared prices of Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers tickets and Houston Astros vs New York Yankees tickets for games in the 2024 season.

Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Tickets

Venue: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)

Date: July 14, 2024

Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers Tickets

Venue: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)

Date: July 26, 2024

Houston Astros Merch

Below is a selection of approximate prices for some of the most enticing Houston Astros merchandise that you could find sold at kiosks and shops in and around Minute Maid Park.

When do the 2025 MLB Preseason and 2025 Regular Season start for the Houston Astros?

The first pitches of the MLB preseason (Spring Training) are generally thrown in late February, continuing through March until the regular season opener in late April. Like all MLB teams, the Houston Astros usually play approximately 25-30 preseason games at various locations (generally in warmer climates) followed by the 162 games of the regular season. The MLB regular season finishes at the end of September, followed immediately by the MLB Playoffs/Postseason in October. Fans should note that some preseason games take place in non-MLB North American markets or even overseas in other countries (such as South Korea in 2024).

Why should you consider buying tickets to Houston Astros preseason games?

Although preseason games do not contribute to any team’s success in the MLB regular season standings, you shouldn’t completely write them off! Not only are tickets to preseason games much cheaper, but they also allow baseball fans the earliest sneak peek at exciting new draft picks and other young players who could bolster the Houston Astros lineup in the upcoming season. And with tickets at cheaper prices from TicketX, premium seats are also much more affordable, so you can get right up close to the infield to see (and hear) all the action!

Trade Rumors and Draft Picks

Having appeared in every postseason since 2017 including 4 World Series (winning 2), the Houston Astros remain one of modern baseball’s best teams in 2024. That said, in pro sports you evolve or you die, and so the Houston Astros will still be looking to add even more strength into their roster via free agents, new talent from the draft, or trades with other franchises. The 2024 MLB trade deadline is July 30, meaning that the Astros will need to move quickly if they want to land any of their rumored top trade targets: JoJo Romero (St. Louis Cardinals), Mason Miller (Oakland Athletics), or Ryan Helsley (St. Louis Cardinals).

Minute Maid Park

With the once-revolutionary Astrodome showing its age and limitations as a modern professional facility, Houston constructed a new ballpark in 2000 as the new home of the Houston Astros. Named Minute Maid Park after its fruit drink sponsor, the venue has now become affectionately known as the Juice Box. Minute Maid Park has witnessed many of the Astros best all-time moments, including the team’s four World Series appearances between 2017 and 2022 (and two World Series victories!). Any fans once harboring nostalgia for the Astrodome have long since been cured of it. As well as every regular season and playoff Astros home game, Minute Maid Park hosts large concerts, international soccer games, and professional wrestling events (it even once hosted a cricket match). Showing up hungry to Minute Maid Park is not a problem, with a huge selection of tempting snacks on the menu, everything from chicken tenders and corn dogs to quesadillas and Blue Bell ice cream.

How to get to Minute Maid Park

Local MTA buses and the METROrail (which also provides Park-N-Ride services at some of its stations) do travel to Minute Maid Park. Most fans tend to arrive in their own cars or via taxi or ride-share. Just be sure to budget plenty of time to deal with Houston’s legendary traffic. Plenty of parking can be found around Minute Maid Park in large garages and lots, but it is best to reserve in advance ($10-50). Visit MLB’s official Astros website for maps, driving directions, and more detailed information on parking.

Minute Maid Park Bag Policy

The Minute Maid Park bag policy recommends that guests ideally not bring any bags at all. If you must bring a bag, the maximum size is 16” x 16” x 8.” Backpacks and hard-sided bags or containers are not permitted. You may bring in one clear plastic bag (up to a gallon).

Minute Maid Park Rules

Minute Maid Park has an extensive list of rules set up to try and ensure a safe, enjoyable day at the venue for you, your friends, and everyone else. Most of these rules are common sense, but some to remember include:

• Cashless Venue Minute Maid Park is now a wholly cashless venue with cash not accepted anywhere in the park. Cards or mobile payments only. Those with cash can convert it to a card at four kiosks in the venue.

• Foul Balls and Home Run Balls fans can keep any ball that is hit into the stands as souvenirs but must not reach into the playing areas or interfere with balls still in play. Fans should stay alert at all times to avoid being hit by balls hit into the stands and should keep the safety of themselves and others in mind when trying to catch baseballs.

• Outside Food food may be carried into the venue if it is contained inside a clear plastic bag (maximum size: 1 gallon).

• Smoking - smoking, including vapes and electronic cigarettes, is not permitted at Minute Maid Park. No exceptions.

Visit the stadium’s A-Z guide page for a full list of rules at Minute Maid Park.

Hotels Near Minute Maid Park

A number of good hotels can be found within walking distance (or a short cab ride) of Minute Maid Park, including The Lancaster Hotel, Hilton Americas-Houston, and JW Marriott Houston Downtown.

Minute Maid Park Seating Chart

As a large sporting venue, Minute Maid Park offers a wide range of different seating options to visitors**.** Looking to watch the game in style? Why not try out premium seating in one of the park’s suites or club seating areas where you will receive five-star hospitality with great views of the action on the field? Minute Maid Park also has expansive areas of general seating that vary in price from more expensive seats near the infield to mid-range and cheaper seats that get lower in price the farther out and higher up you get. Head to TicketX to search for the cheapest tickets to events and games at Minute Maid Park. Use our handy seating chart to compare different seating options.

Read more about our tips on "How to Get Cheap Houston Astros Game Tickets Today" on TicketX Magazine.