Astros Will Have No Shortage of Power Now

Enron Corp., one of the nation’s largest energy companies, said it will pay the Houston Astros about $100 million over 30 years to name the team’s new baseball stadium Enron Field, increasing the company’s brand recognition.

Enron plans to sell power to the stadium in downtown Houston and manage its mechanical and electrical equipment, which could generate about $200 million in revenue over the life of the contract. It also wants to build a parking garage next to the stadium and split the revenue with the Astros.

Houston-based Enron joins First Union Corp., MCI WorldCom Inc. and other large companies that have bought rights to name stadiums to make the public more aware of their products and services. This year, Enron signed a 10-year marketing agreement with the San Francisco Giants to sell power and manage building services at the team’s new Pacific Bell Park.

“This is one more step in Enron’s push to make retail branding an important part of their overall strategy,” said Robert Christensen, an analyst at First Albany Corp., who has an “accumulate” rating on the company’s stock.

The stadium is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of next season.

The Astros opened their final season in the Astrodome this week.

*

The Montreal Expos are coming home with a winning record and, it appears, a decent crowd will be at Olympic Stadium to greet them.

At least 35,000 fans are expected tonight for the Expos’ home opener against the New York Mets. The Expos are 2-1 after starting last season 0-7.

Revived by a provincial government pledge to help keep the team in Montreal, the Expos have attracted early attention.

“Three weeks ago we were worried, but I guess the commitment from the government has put a whole new perspective on things,” Expo vice president Johanne Heroux said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, about 25,000 tickets had been sold, including 4,000 in a limited two-for-one offer from one of the team’s sponsors.

With walkups, the Expos should top the 12-year-low crowd of 31,220 that attended last year’s opener.

Less than a month ago, it appeared the stadium might be nearly empty.

But then Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard announced his government was ready to put up several millions of dollars per year out of a tourism promotions budget toward a new downtown stadium.

*

Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals will have his 1984 Olympic team uniform No. 41 retired by USA Baseball, the organization said.

It will be the first time the national governing body for amateur baseball in the U.S. has retired a number. The retirement ceremony is scheduled for May 8 before the Cardinals’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis.