No, StubHub and Ticketmaster are not the same company. They are two separate companies that provide different services in the ticket resale and live entertainment industry.
Differences Between StubHub and Ticketmaster
Here are some of the key differences between StubHub and Ticketmaster:
Type of Business
– StubHub is a ticket resale marketplace that allows users to buy and sell tickets to events. StubHub does not sell primary tickets, only resale tickets.
– Ticketmaster is a primary ticket outlet that sells tickets directly on behalf of event organizers. Ticketmaster has exclusive partnerships with many venues and promoters to be their official primary ticket provider.
Ticket Sources
– StubHub gets their ticket inventory from individual ticket resellers. Anyone can list and sell event tickets on StubHub.
– Ticketmaster sells primary market tickets directly from event organizers like concert promoters, sports teams, theaters, etc.
Pricing
– StubHub ticket prices are set by sellers, similar to an open marketplace. Ticket prices on StubHub may be above or below face value.
– Ticketmaster sets ticket prices for primary tickets based on agreements with organizers. Their ticket prices are usually at face value.
Fees
– StubHub charges fees to both the buyer and seller of tickets. Buyers pay a 10-20% “service fee” and sellers pay a 15% commission fee.
– Ticketmaster mainly charges fees to ticket buyers in the form of order processing fees, service fees, and delivery fees.
Refunds/Exchanges
– StubHub offers a FanProtect Guarantee where you can get a refund if tickets are invalid or you can’t attend an event for covered reasons.
– Ticketmaster has a more restrictive refund policy that only offers refunds if an event is canceled or rescheduled. Exchanges are also very limited.
Company History
– StubHub was founded in 2000 and acquired by eBay in 2007. It operates as an independent subsidiary under eBay.
– Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 and has gone through multiple mergers and acquisitions with companies like Live Nation and LyricFind. It is now owned by Live Nation.
Ownership and Leadership
StubHub and Ticketmaster have entirely separate ownership, executives, and leadership teams.
– StubHub is owned by eBay and led by CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. Its headquarters is in San Francisco.
– Ticketmaster is owned by Live Nation. Michael Rapino is President and CEO of Live Nation and heads up Ticketmaster operations. Its headquarters is in Beverly Hills, California.
Partners and Event Inventory
StubHub and Ticketmaster have vastly different partnerships when it comes to event ticket inventory:
StubHub Partnerships
– StubHub gets tickets from thousands of individual sellers, brokers, and season ticket holders looking to resell extra tickets.
– They have no special partnerships with major event providers, sports leagues, or teams for direct inventory.
Ticketmaster Partnerships
– As the world’s largest primary ticket outlet, Ticketmaster has exclusive deals with most major venues, promoters, sports leagues, and teams to sell their primary tickets. Some examples:
– NFL – Ticketmaster is the official ticket marketplace of the NFL.
– Live Nation – As Live Nation owns Ticketmaster, they sell primary tickets for most Live Nation concerts and festivals.
– Madison Square Garden – MSG uses Ticketmaster as their exclusive box office for events at their venues.
– Boston Red Sox – Ticketmaster is the official ticket seller for home games at Fenway Park.
So in summary, StubHub gets its tickets from resellers while Ticketmaster gets its ticket inventory directly from major event organizers under exclusive partnerships. They have completely separate supply chains.
Secondary Market Policies
StubHub and Ticketmaster also have very different policies when it comes to the secondary ticket market:
– StubHub actively facilitates secondary market ticket sales as an open marketplace for ticket resale. Resellers can charge any price on StubHub.
– Ticketmaster uses various policies to limit ticket resale on the secondary market:
– Limits or prohibits season ticket holders from reselling on other sites.
– Uses ticket transfer systems to restrict transfers outside official channels.
– Uses dynamic and market-based pricing to adjust prices to demand and limit resale profit.
So Ticketmaster tries to restrict secondary sales in order to drive primary sales, while StubHub enables the secondary market.
User Experiences
Users have very different experiences buying and selling tickets on StubHub vs Ticketmaster:
StubHub User Experience
– Open marketplace allows buying tickets well below or above face value.
– Wide selection of tickets to popular events since anyone can list tickets for resale.
– Must compete with other buyers and sellers during transactions.
– Prices fluctuate frequently based on supply and demand.
Ticketmaster User Experience
– Tickets are almost always sold at face value. Limited opportunities for major deals.
– Inventory limited to what primary sellers release through Ticketmaster. Some events sell out quickly.
– Straightforward buying process directly from the source. No competing with other buyers.
– Steady pricing, though “platinum” tickets may have demand-based pricing.
So StubHub offers more price variation and inventory selection, while Ticketmaster offers official primary tickets through a simple buying process.
Conclusion
In summary, StubHub and Ticketmaster are completely separate companies that operate different business models for live event ticketing:
– StubHub runs a secondary ticket marketplace for ticket resale between buyers and resellers.
– Ticketmaster sells primary event tickets directly on behalf of organizers under exclusive partnerships.
While StubHub enables a ticket resale market, Ticketmaster actively works to limit secondary ticket sales in favor of direct primary sales. The two companies have entirely different leadership, supply chains, partnerships, and user experiences as well.
So no, StubHub and Ticketmaster are not the same company or even affiliated with each other in any way. They have distinct business models and ticketing philosophies despite both being major players in the live entertainment industry. Knowing the key differences between the two can help you choose the best platform for buying or selling tickets.