The Real Big Stage
In Madonna territory: Minute Maid concert for Taylor Swift rings of superstarvalidation
Minute Maid Park is no stranger to unusual events. Between a mass wedding and the longest playoff game in Major League Baseball history, the ballpark has seen its fair share of notable happenings.
But it's never been filled to capacity solely with screaming teenage girls.
Come Nov. 5 that could almost happen however as Taylor Swift graces Houston with her presence in the Juice Box.
Taking a stage that only few have occupied before (including, memorably Madonna), Swift will have us all reliving America's worst breakups in the stadium that is, appropriately, the heartbreaking home of the Houston Astros.
But why Minute Maid? It isn't exactly built for concerts.
The stage will be awkwardly situated in center field with floor seats taking up most of the outfield and a good part of the infield. Even if the ground is covered, this is every groundskeeper's nightmare.
Additionally, the cavernous structure of Minute Maid is not known for being good for acoustics. Many fans at Madonna's 2008 show complained about not being able to understand a single word.
Fans hoping to witness Swift in all her lyrical glory should aim for getting lower-level seats for the best chance of figuring out what song she is playing as quickly as possible. No one likes missing a good TSwift sing-along.
Minute Maid has the capacity to seat 41,000 fans during a baseball game and whatever the final concert configuration ends up being, it will be a steep capacity bump over the 19,000-seat Toyota Center, where Swift played a year ago. A sold-out crowd of 41,498 saw Madonna's 2008 concert at Minute Maid.
Is this a baby step to Swifty someday selling out Reliant Stadium, which set the Final Four attendance record this March?
Are you excited for this concert or does Swift not move you? Is anyone else looking forward to the inevitable Jake-Gyllenhaal-themed song?