Does StubHub still sell tickets after the game starts?

StubHub is one of the largest secondary ticket marketplaces, allowing fans to buy and sell tickets for sports, concerts, theater, and other live entertainment events. A common question is whether StubHub continues allowing ticket sales and transfers after an event has already started. The quick answer is yes, StubHub does allow ticket sales even after event start times, with some caveats.

How StubHub’s Post-Start Ticket Sales Work

StubHub has a timing cut-off for when they stop sales and transfers, which varies based on the event type:

Event Type	Cut-Off Time for StubHub Sales
NFL games	End of Q1
NBA games	Mid 2nd quarter
NHL games	End of 1st period
MLB games	End of 2nd inning
Concerts	Varies, typically 1 hour after published start time
Theater shows	Typically 1 hour after published start time

So as you can see, there is a window where last-minute StubHub ticket purchases are possible after events have already started. The cut-off times are intended to help prevent fraud and ensure ticket transfers can be completed in time for buyers to still attend a reasonable portion of the event.

StubHub’s policy used to be stricter, stopping all sales once an event started. But in recent years, StubHub loosened restrictions to accommodate last-minute ticket buyers. The risk they take on is that technically a game could end during the sale window, and buyer complaints could occur. But StubHub seems to find the extra sales opportunity worth the small risk.

Benefits of Post-Start Ticket Sales

Allowing ticket sales even after events have started provides some benefits for both sellers and buyers:

For Sellers:

• They can still sell tickets they aren’t able to use, recouping some value.
• Attendance tends to dip after events start, so late sellers face less competition.
• Late sellers may get buyers more desperate to buy, potentially at higher prices.

For Buyers:

• Gain ability to make a last-minute decision to attend an event.
• Late buyers may get sellers more eager to sell, potentially at lower prices.
• Buyers can see how their team/artist is performing before deciding to buy.

The biggest win is providing a regulated online marketplace for last-minute ticket transactions. Before StubHub allowed post-start sales, last-minute buyers and sellers had to use risky exchanges like Craigslist. StubHub makes the process much simpler and safer.

Factors Impacting Late Ticket Value

If you decide to buy tickets on StubHub after an event has already started, it’s useful to understand what factors impact how ticket prices change. Some things that typically reduce ticket prices as start time approaches:

– Undesirable matchup/opposing team – Supply exceeds demand.
– Poor weather forecast – Hurts demand.
– Team/artist is underperforming expectations – Dampens enthusiasm.
– Weeknight game instead of weekend – Reduces casual interest.

And factors that tend to sustain higher late prices:

– Rivalry game – High demand.
– Nice weather – Improves demand.
– Team/artist is exceeding expectations – Builds buzz.
– Special giveaway or promotion – Spikes demand.

Paying attention to those dynamics can possibly help you find deals. For example, if bad weather is forecasted for a Tuesday night game between two teams with losing records, late prices may plummet below face value. However, for a Saturday night rivalry game with perfect weather, late prices could exceed face value.

Are Post-Start Ticket Transfers Reliable?

A fair concern is that buying so close to event start time may not allow enough time for tickets to be transferred to you. To help avoid problems, follow these tips:

– Only buy e-tickets, not paper tickets needing to be shipped.
– Try to complete purchase at least 1 hour before cut-off time.
– Enter your payment info on StubHub ahead of time to expedite checkout.
– Use StubHub’s online transfer and use mobile tickets if possible.
– Don’t panic if transfer isn’t instant, give it 15-30 minutes.
– Have a back-up plan in case transfer fails, like watching at a bar.

StubHub does aim to make the late transfer process as smooth as possible. They use technologies like automated email/text alerts and instant ticket barcodes to deliver tickets quickly. But it’s not 100% foolproof given the short turnaround time. So have contingencies ready just in case, and don’t finalize travel plans banking solely on a late ticket buy.

Is It Worth Buying Tickets Late?

At a high level, late StubHub ticket buys make the most sense when:

– The discounted price sufficiently compensates for missing early event portion.
– You live very close to the venue.
– Your schedule was unclear until last minute.
– You want to “rescue” an otherwise wasted ticket.

But late buying is riskier if:

– You are traveling from farther away.
– You absolutely need to see the full event.
– You’ll have tight timing getting to the venue.
– You aren’t saving much versus earlier purchase.

There’s no definitive right or wrong time to buy tickets for big games and shows – it depends on your priorities and situation. StubHub does provide the option to purchase later, so if you’re willing to sacrifice seeing the very start or deal with some uncertainty, last-minute deals are possible.

Quick Tips for Buying StubHub Tickets After Start

• Move fast once decision is made to maximize chances of successful transfer.
• Factor in how much event you’ll actually miss – is discount worth it?
• Be ready for risk of technical snafus and don’t over-rely on transfer working.
• For very late purchases, e-tickets on your phone are a must.
• Two hours before cutoff is safer than buying at last second.

Pros of Buying After Start

Here are some potential advantages to buying StubHub tickets after an event has already kicked off:

• Cheaper prices – Late sellers may drop prices due to lower demand.
• Better seat selection – More inventory opens up as no-shows are listed.
• Buy based on matchup – You can decide after seeing teams/players.
• Less rushed – More time for parking/snacks once inside.
• Deal with unexpected schedule openings – Ability to act on short notice.

Again, the financial discount is usually the biggest motivator. Sports fans can get a sense of the game flow and make a more informed purchase decision. And all buyers can better weigh the trade-off of missing the opening versus the cheaper price.

Cons of Buying After Start

There are also some potential drawbacks of purchasing tickets on StubHub following the event start time:

• Miss part of event – Less entertainment for your dollar.
• No refunds – Sales are final regardless of when you arrive.
• Fewer comparable listings – Harder to price shop.
• Uncertainty over transfer – Tickets may not process in time.
• Parking hassles – May already be full or expensive.

The big risk is clearly either missing a larger portion of the event, if transfer fails or traffic is bad, or potentially not getting to attend at all. Even with successful transfer, parking and lines may be more congested later on. And you lose the special energy and anticipation as events kick off live.

Strategies for Buying Late Successfully

If you decide to purchase StubHub tickets after start time, some tips to boost your chances of success:

• Purchase at least 1-2 hours before the sales cut-off time, earlier if possible.
• Sort by Best Value listings to filter out overpriced tickets.
• Focus on e-tickets for fastest delivery.
• Be ready at venue to show e-ticket on smartphone.
• Have a back-up option in case the tickets don’t process in time.
• Factor in extra time needed for parking or rideshare drop-off.
• Bring cash for quicker vendors, lines may be long.
• Enter event from the nearest gate to reduce walking.

Proper planning and being prepared for headaches can still make buying at the last-minute worthwhile. But expect some additional stress and uncertainty versus buying well in advance. Have reasonable expectations, and the discount you receive may balance out downsides.

Is Selling Late Risky?

For sellers, is it worth the extra hassle to list tickets on StubHub after events have already started? There are a few considerations when selling last-minute:

Pros

• Less seller competition drives up scarcity value.
• Buyers may pay higher prices to get in late.
• Parking and traffic make it hard for sellers to attend.
• Turn unused tickets into cash instead of taking a total loss.

Cons

• Smaller buyer pool as event progresses.
• Risk of buyer complaint if tickets go unsold.
• Rushed transfer timeline adds risk of technical issues.
• May already be too late for meaningful sales if posted right at cutoff.

Sellers essentially exchange the ease of offloading tickets sooner versus trying to eke out last-minute sales. For high-demand events where buyers remain active late, the gamble can pay off. But less popular events see demand drop quickly, making late sales tougher.

Tips for Selling Tickets After Start

Some suggestions for StubHub sellers trying to make post-start sales:

• Transfer tickets to “My Tickets” beforehand for quicker listing.
• Price competitively based on other late listings.
• Require e-ticket transfer to avoid shipping issues.
• Reply to buyer messages ASAP to enable fast transfers.
• Sell at least 2 hours before cutoff to allow processing time.
• List unsold tickets on other sites too as backup.

Again, transferring e-tickets speeds up sales, so mobile tickets are best if possible. And responding quickly keeps buyer enthusiasm high versus deals falling through.

Risk of Fraudulent Late Listings

A risk with last-minute ticket listings is sellers trying to take advantage of desperation by posting tickets fraudulently. This is against StubHub policy, but some dishonest sellers try tactics like:

• Posting tickets already sold on another site.
• Transferring the same e-ticket barcode to multiple buyers.
• Listing speculative ticket transfers that never actually process.
• Selling fake PDF ticket copies.

These sham listings often get taken down. But buyers should still be cautious when buying post-start tickets. Some best practices:

• Vet seller feedback and ratings.
• Stick to reputable sellers with high volume.
• Avoid prices that seem unrealistically low.
• Complete purchases with enough time to confirm receipt.

Protecting your own interests is wise. However, outright fraud is still not extremely commonplace on StubHub compared to risks on some lesser regulated sites.

Alternatives to StubHub for Late Tickets

While StubHub is the largest secondary ticket source, a few other options exist for buying tickets after start:

Site	Key Features
VividSeats	– Also allows post-start sales. – Lower buyer fees than StubHub.
Gametime	– App-only last-minute tickets. – e-Tickets directly from app.
Craigslist	– Buy from local sellers. – Riskier; no guarantees.
Facebook Marketplace	– Informal ticket marketplace. – Mostly local sellers.

VividSeats mirrors StubHub’s model closely. Gametime focuses exclusively on hyper-last-minute e-ticket sales. Meanwhile, Craigslist and Facebook provide less protection but can source very cheap, local ticket deals.

These all supplement StubHub as secondary sources. But none match StubHub’s inventory breadth, buyer protections, and smooth transfers. For the widest selection and safest transactions, StubHub remains the go-to marketplace.

Will Ticket Transfers Complete in Time?

Cutting it close to event start times is always risky in terms of completed ticket delivery. Here are tips to boost the likelihood transfers process in time:

• Allow at least 1 hour for e-ticket delivery.
• Enter payment details ahead instead of at checkout.
• Use StubHub’s live chat if issues arise.
• Have ticket ready on smartphone for venue scanner.
• Download tickets during rideshare/transit if cutting it close.

With digital systems, transfers can happen quickly. But it’s not instant – listings need to go through processing on both buyer and seller ends. If trying to buy 15 minutes before last entry, you may run into trouble. Leaving a bigger buffer gives you more margin for error.

Getting Refunds on Post-Start Purchases

All StubHub ticket sales are final, regardless of when the tickets are purchased. If you buy after start and can’t make it inside because transfers fail or take too long, normally you are out of luck in terms of refunds. However, two potential avenues for help exist:

• StubHub FanProtect Guarantee – If tickets turn out invalid/fraudulent, StubHub may provide comparable replacement tickets or site credit.
• Credit card chargebacks – You can dispute the charge with your credit card company by detailing the purchase issue.

These options are not guaranteed to work. But they offer a last line of defense if transfers simply fail or a seller blatantly defrauds you. File complaints promptly and provide StubHub documentation.

Conclusion

StubHub allowing ticket sales and transfers even after events have started opens up last-minute opportunities – both for buyers to get deals and sellers to unload inventory. Just be aware of the risks like delivery timing uncertainty. With reasonable expectations, buying or selling at the last minute can still potentially benefit both sides. But plan ahead and set limits on what portions of an event you’re willing to miss for the cost savings.