Highgate Recreation Reserve
| Former names | RAMS Arena (2014–2019) |
|---|---|
| Location | Grand Blvd, Craigieburn, Victoria |
| Owner | City of Hume |
| Capacity | 5,000 (250 seated)[1] |
| Record attendance | 5,000 (Coburg vs Gold Coast, 12 June 2010) |
| Opened | 24 April 2010 |
| Tenants | |
| Calder Cannons (Talent League) | |
Highgate Recreation Reserve (known as RAMS Arena between 2014 and 2019 under naming rights) is an Australian rules football arena in the Melbourne suburb of Craigieburn.[2] The name also refers to the wider public park in which the main oval is located.[3]
As of 2025, it is home to the Calder Cannons, which competes in the Talent League.[4][5] It has also been used as a secondary facility for the Coburg Football Club, which competes in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[6][7]
History
The ground opened on 24 April 2010 in front of a crowd of 3,000 for a VFL match between Coburg and Box Hill.[8] Later in the 2010 VFL season, a record crowd of 5,000 attended a match between Coburg and Gold Coast for Karmichael Hunt's football debut.[1][9]
In June 2014, the ground was renamed to RAMS Arena as part of a naming rights agreement with home loans provider RAMS.[10][11] The name was used until early 2019.[12][13]
During the 2016 NAB Challenge, the Western Bulldogs hosted Melbourne at the ground.[14] Essendon played a home match in the VFL at the ground in 2018.[15]
Highgate Recreation Reserve has also been used for various matches in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL), including finals.[16][17] The ground has been vandalised by hoons on several occasions since it was opened.[18][19]
References
- ^ a b "Highgate Recreation Reserve". Austadiums. Archived from the original on 15 January 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Loftus, Thomas (6 March 2019). "A change of scenery". North Melbourne Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Have your say on Highgate Recreation Reserve concept design". Star Weekly. 29 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Junior stars to feature in 2022 NAB League Boys Season". Northern Football Netball League. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Williams, Peter (19 March 2025). "2025 CTL Girls: Calder Cannons season preview". Rookie Me Central. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Victorian standalone clubs to feature in practice match carnival". AFL.com.au. 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Visentini, Bruno (29 March 2024). "LIONS GO DOWN WITH THE LAST KICK". Coburg Football Club. Archived from the original on 2 April 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Brodie, Will (11 June 2010). "Coburg, and Craigieburn, prepare for Hunt's debut". The Age. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Pierik, Jon (12 June 2010). "Time to show if Hunt has what it takes". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Savino, Natalie (28 June 2014). "Craigieburn's Highgate Recreation Reserve renamed RAMS Arena in $77,000 sponsorship deal". Herald Sun. Hume Leader. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Craigieburn arena sponsorship a first for Calder Cannons". Star Weekly. 30 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "VFL gallery: Dons v Coburg". Essendon Football Club. 26 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Filippo, Cristian (27 March 2019). "Ikon Park to host VFL practice match". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Ralph, Jon (6 March 2016). "Melbourne defeats Bulldogs by 12 points, NAB Challenge at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "VFL: Hepp's confidence grows". Essendon Football Club. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "2022 EDFL Senior Men's Finals Information". Essendon District Football League. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Pierik, Jon (16 August 2022). "'Both clubs are to blame': EDFL disqualifies preliminary finalists after brawl". The Age. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Byrne, Bridie (3 April 2018). "Matches called off for safety after burnouts damage Craigieburn oval". Herald Sun. Hume Leader. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Beers, Lucy-Mae (10 June 2020). "Melbourne footy clubs targeted in Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn by hoon vandals". 7NEWS. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2025.