Astros want court to decide if Enron Field name should change

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Posted 1:19PM on Tuesday, February 5, 2002

HOUSTON - The Houston Astros want to shed the name of Enron Field. The baseball team asked a federal bankruptcy judge in New York on Tuesday whether the team should continue its stadium-naming agreement with Enron Corp., the energy giant that collapsed in an accounting scandal. "The Houston Astros have been materially and adversely affected by the negative public perception and media scrutiny resulting from Enron's alleged bad business practices and bankruptcy," said Astros vice president of business operations Pam Gardner. The team filed a motion requesting guidance on the issue from the court overseeing Enron's bankruptcy proceedings. "We have worked diligently with Enron to transition the stadium name, but we've been unsuccessful," Gardner said. "At this point, we have no other alternative but to seek relief from the bankruptcy court." In April 1999, the Astros and Enron agreed to a $100 million, 30-year contract. The Astros said that the company has made three annual payments totaling $10.25 million and that $3.65 million is due Aug. 31.