Paddles up at the MCG

Ray White painted the MCG black, white, and yellow on Saturday 27 June, celebrating its Platinum Partnership with the Collingwood Football Club for the highly anticipated clash against Richmond.

The 4:15pm blockbuster saw the hallowed turf transformed into a hub of high-stakes real estate energy, bringing the thrill of the auction room straight to the heart of the sporting world.

The day kicked off in spectacular fashion for a select group of lucky Ray White clients and members, and lucky Magpies fans, who were treated to the ultimate pre-game "Inner Sanctum" experience. Guests were given the rare privilege of walking on the MCG turf before hearing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes briefing from Collingwood Assistant Coach Matt Boyd. The group were then led onto the ground once again to take place in the Collingwood Guard of Honour as the players ran onto the field.

Meanwhile, over in the MCG’s Olympic Room, VIPs and guests gathered for the home team’s President’s function, sponsored by Ray White.

Domenic Belfiore, CEO of Ray White Victoria and an instrumental figure in bringing the partnership to life, said the collaboration was a natural fit, fueled by a shared passion for high performance and community.

"At Ray White, we’re deeply committed to an auction culture and driving unmatched energy for our clients, so bringing that exact spirit to the MCG was incredible," Mr Belfiore said.

"Standing in the Olympic Room and looking out at the ground, you could feel the alignment between our network and a club as iconic as Collingwood. This partnership is all about teamwork, excellence, and delivering unforgettable experiences for our people and the community."

The real showstopper came at half-time. In front of tens of thousands of fans, Ray White Victoria’s own master auctioneer Luke Banitsiotis took center stage for a live activation on the ground.

With bidder paddles handed out across the stadium, the crowd erupted as Banitsiotis called a fast-paced, live auction, knocking down a coveted prize pack containing $500 cash, an exclusive Collingwood merchandise pack and a signed ball to one lucky fan.

Reflecting on the unmatched branding footprint across the stadium, Ray White Head of Marketing Todd Alexander noted that the activation perfectly captured the essence of the Ray White brand on a grand scale.

"From a marketing perspective, our goal was to bridge the gap between the thrill of a Saturday footy match and the excitement of a Saturday Ray White auction," Mr Alexander said.

"Seeing thousands of Ray White bidder paddles flying high in the stands of the MCG was a phenomenal milestone for the brand. It shows the sheer scale of what we can achieve when two high-performance organisations collaborate to engage fans in a truly authentic and rewarding way."