History
Harris County built the steel stadium for about $2 million as a stopgap while the Astrodome went up next door. The Colt .45s opened it in April 1962.
Heat, humidity and mosquitoes made the park miserable, which strengthened the case for a domed stadium. It also saw two no-hitters, including Ken Johnson's 1-0 loss in 1964.
After the 1964 season the team moved into the Astrodome as the Astros. The stadium was sold in 1971 and taken apart and shipped to Mexico, where it served teams in Torreon and Tampico. Its Houston site is now part of NRG Park.
Why it matters: It was Houston's first major league ballpark, and its conditions helped spur the Astrodome.
Timeline
- January 3, 1962Groundbreaking[2]
Officials fired .45-caliber blanks instead of using shovels.
- April 10, 1962First game[2]
The Colt .45s beat the Cubs 11-2.
- June 9, 1963Sunday night game[2]
The park hosted the majors' first Sunday night game.
- April 23, 1964Losing no-hitter[1]
Ken Johnson threw a no-hitter but lost 1-0 to Cincinnati.
- September 27, 1964Last game[2]
Houston beat the Dodgers 1-0 in 11 innings.
- 1971
The stands were sold and later shipped to Torreon for a Mexican League team.
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | NRG Park: part of NRG Center, a power station and parking[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Houston Colt .45s | National League · 1962–1964 |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | Beside the later Astrodome site, across Kirby Dr.; now under the NRG Center area and a power station, Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | MLB |
| Opened | April 10, 1962[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | September 27, 1964[1,2] |
| Demolished | 1971–1975[1] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Original capacity | 32,601[1,2] |
| Final capacity | 33,010[1,2] |
| Capacity notes | Baseball-Reference Bullpen: 32,601 (1962), 33,010 (1964); Wikipedia: 33,000. |
| Construction cost | $2 million (1962)[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Owner / operator | Harris County |
| Closure | Built as a temporary park; the team moved into the Astrodome in 1965. |
Documented details
Sources
- Colt Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, teams
- Colt Stadium, Baseball-Reference Bullpen. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Wikipedia gives demolition only as '1970s': sold 1971 and dismantled over about four years. Bullpen says it was moved in the early 1970s.
- Bullpen says an Astrodome parking lot is on the site; Wikipedia places it under NRG Center and a power station.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.