With the MLB playoffs underway, baseball fans are scrambling to get tickets to see their favorite teams compete for a World Series title. But playoff baseball brings uncertainty – what if your team gets eliminated early or you can’t make it to a game? Are MLB playoff tickets refundable in these cases? Here’s what you need to know about the refund policies for MLB postseason tickets.
MLB Playoff Refund Policies
The refund policy for MLB playoff tickets depends on where and how you bought them. Here are the key things to know:
- Directly from MLB: Tickets purchased directly through MLB.com are refundable only if the game is postponed or canceled. You can get a full refund by returning the tickets prior to the postponed game being rescheduled.
- StubHub: This ticket resale site offers refunds if your event is canceled and not rescheduled. You must return the tickets by the posted deadline to get a full refund.
- Vivid Seats: This resale marketplace offers a 100% buyer guarantee, allowing refunds if your event is canceled and not rescheduled. Refunds are issued within 3-5 business days.
- SeatGeek: You can get a full refund, minus shipping fees, if your event is canceled and not rescheduled. Refunds are processed within 10-14 business days.
- Ticketmaster: Refund availability for Ticketmaster resales depends on the seller’s policy. Some may offer full refunds while others only offer credit. Check before buying.
- Team/Stadium Policies: Each team and stadium has its own policy for ticket refunds. Check their website for details. Refunds are rarely offered except for postponements.
In general, full refunds are only issued by official ticketing sources if the game is postponed or canceled and not able to be rescheduled. Otherwise, you will likely only get credit toward future games. Third party resale sites may offer refunds if events are canceled, but policies vary.
Getting Refunds for Postponed or Canceled MLB Playoff Games
There are a few scenarios where you may be able to get a refund for MLB playoff tickets:
- Postponed Games – If a playoff game is postponed due to weather or other factors, your tickets will most likely be valid for the rescheduled game. However, if you can’t attend the new date, you can typically get a full refund by returning the tickets prior to the rescheduled game.
- Canceled Games – In rare cases, playoff games may be canceled entirely and not rescheduled. This has happened before in the early rounds due to weather when teams run out of possible postponement dates. If this occurs, you can get a full refund by returning the unused tickets.
- Team Elimination – If your favorite team is eliminated from the playoffs, tickets to future rounds are automatically refunded. You don’t have to take any action to get your refund.
The catch is you must act quickly to get refunds when games are postponed or canceled before the new game date is set. If you miss the ticket return deadline, you likely will only receive credit toward future games rather than a refund.
Exchanging Playoff Tickets
In most cases, you cannot exchange MLB playoff tickets for another game. However, some possibilities exist:
- If a game is postponed, you may be able to exchange tickets for the new game date if you can’t attend.
- If your team gets eliminated, MLB may allow exchanges to use the value of unused tickets toward other playoff games.
- Ticket resale sites like StubHub allow you to relist and sell tickets you can’t use to recoup some of the costs.
Otherwise, playoff ticket exchanges are very limited unless specifically noted in the ticket policy. You will likely have to resell your tickets if you can’t attend a game as originally scheduled.
Reselling MLB Playoff Tickets
If you want to recoup some money for unused playoff tickets, you can resell them on ticket resale sites. Here are some options:
- StubHub – MLB’s official ticketing partner allows season ticket holders to resell tickets. StubHub charges a 10% fee.
- Vivid Seats – This resale marketplace charges sellers a 10-20% commission but lets you set your own ticket price.
- SeatGeek – Sellers keep 70-90% of the ticket resale price here with no listing fees.
- Craigslist – You can list tickets for local pickup only here with no fees. But exercise caution when meeting strangers for exchanges.
Sell sooner than later to get the highest price as demand drops once a team is eliminated. Be sure to list below face value to attract buyers. There are risks if tickets don’t sell, but reselling gives you a chance to recover some costs.
Bottom Line
Here are some key takeaways on MLB playoff ticket refunds:
- Full refunds are only offered if games are postponed or canceled.
- Act quickly when games are delayed to get your refund before a makeup date is set.
- Exchanges are very limited – plan to resell unwanted tickets instead.
- Third party resale sites may provide refunds if events are canceled.
- Review all ticket policies closely before buying playoff tickets.
MLB playoff tickets are hot commodities so refunds and exchanges are extremely restricted. Buy only what you are sure you can use or risk eating the cost. Consider reselling unwanted tickets to get some money back. With proper planning, you can enjoy the excitement of October baseball without wasting money on tickets you can’t use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are MLB playoff tickets refundable if my team is eliminated?
No, MLB playoff tickets are not refundable if your team is eliminated from the playoffs. The tickets are only valid for the specific games printed on them. If your team is eliminated and there are remaining games on your tickets, you will not be able to get a refund for the unused games. Your only option is to resell them.
Can I exchange my playoff tickets for another game if I can’t attend?
In most cases, exchanging MLB playoff tickets for another game is not allowed. The limited possibility to exchange tickets only applies if a game is postponed and rescheduled for a new date you can’t attend. Otherwise, exchanges are generally prohibited for playoff games.
Are Division Series or Championship Series tickets refundable?
MLB Division Series and Championship Series playoff tickets have the same refund policy as all other playoff games – refunds are only issued if the specific game printed on the ticket is postponed or canceled. If you team is eliminated or you can’t attend for any other reason, the tickets have no cash value and cannot be refunded.
Can I get a refund on convenience fees and processing charges?
No, you cannot get a refund on the convenience fees and processing charges you paid when purchasing MLB playoff tickets. Those are non-refundable costs regardless of whether you get a refund for the face value of the tickets. Only the base ticket price is refundable in limited cases.
How quickly do I get my money back if I return postponed game tickets?
If you meet the deadline to return tickets for a postponed MLB playoff game that has been refunded, you will typically get your money back within 30 days. However, it may take longer depending on the original seller and how you paid. If you paid by credit card, expect the refund to process to your account within 1-2 billing cycles.
Can I resell my playoff tickets if my team gets eliminated?
Yes, you can absolutely resell unused MLB playoff tickets on ticket resale sites like StubHub if your team is eliminated early. Reselling playoff tickets that you can’t use anymore is the best way to potentially recoup some of your costs. Just be sure to price them competitively below face value.
Are Wild Card round tickets subject to the same refund policy?
Yes, the Wild Card games have the same MLB playoff ticket refund policy. Those tickets are only refundable if the specific Wild Card game printed on the ticket is canceled or postponed. Otherwise, there are no refunds issued for Wild Card tickets.
Sample Refund Policies
Here are some examples of refund policies for MLB playoff tickets from different sources:
MLB.com Playoff Ticket Policy
- Refunds are issued only if a game is canceled or postponed due to weather or other factors.
- Full refunds given if tickets are returned prior to the new game date for postponed games.
- No refunds issued if playoff rounds or games are impacted by strike or lockout.
- No refunds for tickets to games already completed.
- No exchanges permitted except for ticket exchanges for postponed games if noted.
Yankee Stadium Playoff Refund Policy
- Full refunds issued if a playoff game is canceled and not able to be rescheduled.
- Postponed game tickets can be exchanged for the new game date if returned prior to the makeup game.
- No refunds or exchanges for playoff tickets under any other circumstances.
- Tickets have no cash value if unused or if Yankees are eliminated.
Dodger Stadium Playoff Ticket Refund Policy
- Full refunds given only if a playoff game is canceled and unable to be rescheduled.
- No refunds, exchanges, or credits if you cannot attend a game or if the Dodgers are eliminated.
- Tickets for postponed games valid for makeup games. No exchanges permitted.
- Parking, concessions, and fees are non-refundable under all circumstances.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key points to remember about refunds for MLB playoff tickets:
- Refunds only issued for canceled or postponed games that can’t be rescheduled.
- Exchanges very limited – reselling is better option for unwanted tickets.
- Act quickly to return unused postponed game tickets before new date is set.
- Review all ticket policies closely before purchasing playoff tickets.
- No refunds if your team is eliminated or you can’t attend for personal reasons.