Passenger rail declined greatly after World War II, and the last regularly-scheduled train, the Lone Star, moved its service to Houston's current Amtrak station on July 31, 1974.

In August 1995, Astros owner Drayton McLane, then leasing the Astrodome from Harris County, commented to the Houston Chronicle that he was not in the market for a new ballpark.

Citing a lack of adequate luxury boxes, in October, Astros vice-president Bob McClaren claimed that renovations to the Astrodome would help increase revenue.

"[21] According to the organization, the team was in danger of being sold to a Virginia businessman who was expected to move the Astros to the Washington D.C. area because of poor revenue.

[26] In August 1996, Houston's Union Station received a US$2 million grant from the Texas Transportation Commission for renovation in a separate project.

[27] Plans for the new ballpark's location drastically changed by September mostly in response to Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay's input and pledge to substantially contribute to funding if placed downtown.

[35] Early stadium sketches from Kansas City-based HOK Sport (now Populous) using the working title "The Ballpark at Union Station" were released to the public on October 11, 1996, where Astros President Tal Smith was open about his suggestions for the stadium including the location of the flagpole in center field and a traditional dirt path from the pitcher's mound to home plate.

In late 1997, it was announced that local Brown & Root would manage construction of the stadium, while Populous with Walter P. Moore would design it.

Statues of longtime Astros players Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio are located in the exterior of the ballpark in a plaza area.

The ballpark was first inaugurated with a preseason game against the New York Yankees on March 30, 2000, with naming rights sold to the Houston energy and financial trading company Enron in a 30-year, $100 million deal.

[42] However, Astros management faced a public relations problem when the energy corporation went bankrupt in 2001 due to a financial scandal.

[43] On February 5, 2002, Astros ownership filed a motion with the court overseeing the company's bankruptcy to force Enron to make an immediate decision on the matter.

[44] The Astros sold naming rights of the ballpark in 2002 to locally based Coca-Cola subsidiary Minute Maid for $100 million over 30 years.

If an Astros player hits the pole, all fans in attendance get a coupon for a free chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A.

Kazuo Matsui hit the right field foul pole on August 3, 2009, with a two-run homer in the sixth inning to beat the Giants.

Carlos Lee hit the left field pole on July 28, 2010, giving the Astros an 8–1 win against the Cubs.

In the 2023 Major League Baseball postseason (October 7th, 2023), Yordan Alvarez hit a solo home run to the right field pole which made the game 6-4.

[49] For the 2011 season, the park added a large Daktronics HD screen nicknamed "El Grande" replacing the original one in right field.

[6] After the Astros reverted to their original colors and logo in 2013, much of Daikin Park was repainted to navy and orange from brick red.

In June 2015 the Astros announced Tal's Hill would be removed in a major renovation project during the 2015-2016 offseason, to be replaced with additional seating, concessions, and escalators for fans.

However, the project had to be postponed due to the Astros' unexpected American League Wild Card championship and subsequent postseason appearance, along with the stadium's offseason event schedule.

However, the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium four blocks southeast on Texas Avenue for MLS's Houston Dynamo in 2012 has effectively made its use for future soccer games moot.

The stadium hosted the first leg of the quarterfinal between Portmore United of Jamaica (the "home" team) and Club América of Mexico.

[61] Minute Maid Park hosted the 2020 Royal Rumble on January 26, one of the promotion's four annual flagship professional wrestling events.

[62] Paul McCartney, RBD, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Eagles, Madonna, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga and Red Hot Chili Peppers have all performed at Daikin Park.

[76] The largest entrance to the park is inside what was once Houston's Union Station, and the left-field side of the stadium features a railway as homage to the site's history.

[78] Home runs must clear a 19-foot wall in front of the elevated boxes which houses the hand-operated out-of-town scoreboard, displaying the day's other games.

It features a classic gasoline pump that displays the total number of Astros home runs hit since the park opened.

The Astros reported that despite water entering into the service levels of the stadium, Minute Maid Park remained in "good condition" when the storm cleared out.

The lingering effects of Harvey forced the Astros to move their series against the Texas Rangers to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.