StubHub is a major online marketplace for buying and selling tickets to live events—such as concerts, sports, and theater. Instead of being the “primary” box office that issues tickets first, StubHub mainly operates as a resale platform, connecting sellers who have tickets with buyers who want to attend.
TL;DR:
StubHub is a resale ticket marketplace where people buy and sell tickets for concerts, sports, and shows—often for sold-out events. It offers buyer protections through its FanProtect Guarantee, but prices can vary and include service fees, so it’s best to compare the final checkout total.
How StubHub Works
On StubHub, sellers list tickets (often mobile/e-tickets), choose a price, and deliver tickets through the platform’s supported methods. Buyers search by event, compare listings, then purchase through StubHub’s checkout flow. StubHub handles key parts of the transaction, including order tracking and buyer/seller communications.
FanProtect Guarantee: What It Promises
One of StubHub’s biggest differentiators is its FanProtect Guarantee. StubHub states that buyers should receive valid tickets for their event (or get their money back), and that it will work to find replacement tickets if there’s an issue with an order.
StubHub also notes that if an event is canceled and not rescheduled, customers may receive a credit worth 120% of what they paid or the option of a cash refund, depending on the circumstances and terms.
Fees and Pricing: What to Expect
StubHub charges fees to support its marketplace. Importantly, StubHub says there’s no fixed percentage for buyer fees—fees can adjust based on factors like ticket price, time to event, and supply/demand, and customers typically see applicable fees during checkout.
Practical tip: always compare the final total at checkout (not just the list price) when shopping across ticket sites.
Why People Use StubHub
Fans often turn to StubHub when:
- the event is sold out through primary sellers,
- they want more seating choices, or
- they need last-minute options and are willing to pay market price.
Sellers use StubHub when plans change and they want a structured way to reach buyers.
StubHub Today
StubHub has remained a prominent name in ticket resale and, in 2025, drew fresh attention around its move into the public markets. Coverage of its IPO reported tens of millions of tickets sold on its platform and outlined its competitive position in the resale space.
Bottom line
StubHub is best understood as a ticket marketplace: it can unlock access to high-demand events, backed by protections like FanProtect, but pricing can vary widely and fees are part of the final cost.
