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ENRON AND ASTROS NAME NEW BALLPARK “ENRON FIELD” AS PART OF 30-YEAR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 07, 1999
HOUSTON – Enron and the Houston Astros announced today an integrated naming rights agreement that includes the exclusive right for Enron Energy Services to provide competitive electricity and facilities management services at the new baseball stadium, which will be named “Enron Field.”
Under the 30-year agreement with the Astros, Enron Energy Services will manage the energy contracts at Enron Field, as well as provide services for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and also will administer various subcontracts for maintenance of all mechanical and electrical equipment. In addition, Enron has agreed to develop a parking structure adjacent to the ballpark, pending Harris County-Houston Sports Authority approval.
“Enron’s ability to provide a total energy and facilities management product for sports facilities will help maintain a first-class ballpark created by the Astros and the Sports Authority in Downtown Houston,” said Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth L. Lay.
“This is a fitting partnership, given Enron’s long-standing support of the Astros,” said Drayton McLane, chairman of the Houston Astros Baseball Club. “We’ve got a world-class baseball organization in a world-class city, and now we’ve got a world-class energy company that will manage our state-of-the-art stadium into the next century.”
This agreement is Enron’s second sports facilities management agreement. Last December, Enron Energy Services announced it had signed a deal to become the exclusive provider of electricity and facilities management services for the San Francisco Giants.
“Enron Energy Services’ partnership with the Astros further validates our belief that entertainment facilities, especially sports stadiums, represent a tremendous opportunity for our comprehensive energy and facilities management services,” said Lou Pai, chairman and CEO of Enron Energy Services.
Enron Field, which is scheduled to open in April 2000, is leading the revitalization of downtown Houston. The 42,000-seat stadium has been designed as an open-air ballpark with a natural grass playing field and the ability to close a retractable roof and air condition the seating bowl on hot summer days or in bad weather. Fans will enjoy a view of the Houston skyline from Enron Field, whether the roof is open or closed, as the stadium’s moving west roof wall will feature 50,000 square feet of glass.
Champions of the National League’s Central Division in 1997 and 1998, the Houston Astros won a franchise record 102 games last season. The Astros have had winning seasons in each of the past six years, a stretch equaled only by the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves among all major league teams. The Houston lineup features the “Killer B’s” in 1994 NL Most Valuable Player Jeff Bagwell, seven-time All-Star Craig Biggio and outfielder Derek Bell. The Astros also welcomed the return of 1996 NL Most Valuable Player Ken Caminiti back to Houston in 1999.
Enron is one of the world’s leading integrated natural gas and electricity companies. The company owns approximately $30 billion in assets, produces electricity and natural gas, develops, constructs and operates energy and water facilities worldwide and delivers physical commodities and risk management and financial services to customers around the world. Enron’s Internet address is www.enron.com, and the stock is traded under the ticker symbol, “ENE.”
Click here to download this press release in Microsoft Word format.
For additional information please contact:
Karen Denne
Enron
(713) 853-9757
Rob Matwick
Astros
(713) 799-9596
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