Tal’s Hill lives: Astros postpone centerfield renovation

It looks like Tal’s Hill isn’t going anywhere after all.

This past summer, the team announced plans to remove the iconic feature of Minute Maid Park, but now the team has made a decision to suspend renovations in center field. Tal’s Hill, a tribute to Cincinnati’s Crosley Field and other old ballparks, is named after former longtime Astros executive Tal Smith.

The team said the Astros’ playoff run, as well as the selection of MMP as host of an worldwide cricket match in November, prompted the delay in plans. Or 2018. Regardless, next season will still have Tal’s Hill in Houston, much to the chagrin of many visiting teams’ center fielders. At least not for the 2016 season. We still consider the renovation of the center field area a significant opportunity, especially in the long-term, and will continue investing in our ballpark and our fans in the coming years. Improved seating, new food and beverage items and escalators were also included in the renovation.

With its current configuration, Minute Maid Park has the deepest center field in the majors at 436 feet and the renovation would shorten it to 409 feet.

There are still plans to change center field, but nothing is confirmed.