Princes Park | |
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| Full name | Carlton Recreation Ground/Princes Park |
|---|---|
| Former names | Princes Oval (1886–1897) Princes Park (1897–1994) Optus Oval (1994–2006) MC Labour Park (2007–2008) Visy Park (2009–2015) IKON Park (2015–present) |
| Location | Princes Park, Carlton North, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°47′2″S 144°57′42″E / 37.78389°S 144.96167°E |
| Owner | City of Melbourne |
| Operator | Carlton Football Club |
| Capacity | 13,000 (since 2023)[1][2] |
| Record attendance | 62,986 (1945 VFL Grand Final) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1892 |
| Opened | 1897 |
| Tenants | |
|
Administration & Training (1897–present)
Northern Blues (VFL) (2012–2019)
Carlton Soccer Club (1997–1999) Balmain Tigers (NSWRL) (1994) Melbourne Storm (Administration & Training) (2006–2010) Melbourne Rebels (Administration & Training) (2011–2015) | |
Princes Park (also known as Ikon Park under naming rights) is an Australian rules football ground located inside the Princes Park precinct in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North. Officially the Carlton Recreation Ground, it is a historic venue, having been Carlton Football Club's VFL/AFL home ground from 1897.[3]
At its highest usage, the ground had a nominal capacity of 35,000, making it the third largest Australian rules football venue in Melbourne after the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Docklands Stadium. Princes Park hosted three grand finals during World War II, with a record attendance of 62,986 at the 1945 VFL Grand Final between Carlton and South Melbourne. After 2005, when the ground hosted its last Australian Football League (AFL) game, two stands were removed and replaced with an indoor training facility and administration building, reducing the capacity. The venue reached capacity (24,500) for the inaugural AFL Women's match between Carlton and Collingwood in 2017.[4] Subsequent renovations and modernisation of the ground and surrounding precinct have reduced Ikon Park's capacity to approximately 13,000.[3]
- ^ Caffrey, Oliver (2 December 2023). "Surburban grounds or stadiums? Debate over AFLW venues". Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Caffrey, Oliver. "AFLW grand final to stay at Ikon despite quick sellout". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Ikon Park".
- ^ Guthrie, Ben (3 February 2017). "Blue ribbon day for AFLW as Carlton downs Collingwood - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. AFL. Retrieved 3 February 2017.