Both StubHub and Ticketmaster are major players in the secondary ticket market, providing platforms where fans can buy and sell tickets to events. Choosing between them can be difficult – they have similar capabilities overall, but some key differences that may make one better than the other for your specific needs. This comprehensive guide will compare StubHub vs Ticketmaster to help you decide where it’s better to sell your tickets.
Key Differences Between StubHub and Ticketmaster
Here are some of the main differences between StubHub and Ticketmaster:
Fees
Both sites charge fees to sellers, but StubHub’s fees are generally lower. StubHub charges a 10% fee for standard sellers, while Ticketmaster charges 15-20%.
Buyer Protections
StubHub offers more buyer protections, like guaranteed valid tickets and refunds if events are canceled. Ticketmaster has fewer guarantees for buyers.
Seller Tools
StubHub provides better pricing recommendations and more seller support. Ticketmaster gives sellers fewer tools to optimize listings.
Buyer Base
StubHub has a larger buyer base, giving sellers access to more potential ticket buyers. Ticketmaster’s buyer base is still substantial though.
Event Inventory
Ticketmaster has exclusive ticket deals with many major venues and leagues like the NFL. StubHub has a broader mix of inventory for concerts, theaters, etc.
Seller Fees
One of the most important factors when choosing a ticket resale site is the fees charged to sellers. Here’s an overview of StubHub vs Ticketmaster seller fees:
StubHub Seller Fees
– 10% fee for standard sellers
– 15% fee for “last minute” sellers (within 3 days of event)
– Premium services for $100/month with lower 8% fees
Ticketmaster Seller Fees
– 15% fee for Platinum tickets
– 20% fee for standard tickets
– No reduced fees for premium services
StubHub’s 10% fee gives them a competitive advantage over Ticketmaster’s higher 15-20% fees. For frequent sellers or high-volume tickets, those extra fees can really add up. StubHub also offers professional sellers the ability to reduce fees further to 8% with premium services, whereas Ticketmaster does not.
Buyer Protections
The guarantees and protections offered to ticket buyers are another key consideration when choosing a marketplace. Buyers are more likely to shop confidently on sites that promise valid tickets and recourse if issues come up.
StubHub Buyer Protections
– Guaranteed valid tickets for all purchases
– Refunds if event is canceled and not rescheduled
– Help with last minute issues through FanProtect Guarantee
Ticketmaster Buyer Protections
– Some refunds and assistance for invalid tickets
– No refunds for canceled events unless Ticketmaster owns the tickets
– Less robust help for last minute problems
StubHub clearly offers buyers better assurances, like guaranteed valid tickets and refunds for canceled events even if the tickets were resold. Ticketmaster has fewer blanket guarantees, and buyers may be out of luck if third-party sellers don’t come through. The stronger buyer protections encourage more sales on StubHub.
Seller Tools and Support
Having the right tools and resources as a seller is crucial for success on ticket marketplaces. From listing optimization to sales reports, the seller experience can differ greatly between StubHub and Ticketmaster.
StubHub Seller Tools
– Price suggestions based on demand
– Detailed sales reports and trends
– Onsite seller support team
– API integrations for high volume sellers
– Mobile app with sales tracking
Ticketmaster Seller Tools
– Basic sales reporting
– Less guidance on pricing strategy
– Email-only seller support
– Fewer API tools for large sellers
– No mobile app for sellers
StubHub offers sellers more insights and assistance, like optimized pricing guidance, robust sales reporting, and dedicated support teams. These features help StubHub sellers maximize profits and get an edge. Ticketmaster gives sellers a more basic self-service experience without as many advanced capabilities.
Buyer Audience and Demand
A ticket marketplace is only as strong as its buyer base. The more buyers actively checking for tickets, the better chance sellers have of making sales. StubHub and Ticketmaster leverage their brand recognition to attract plenty of buyers, but StubHub maintains an advantage.
StubHub Buyer Base
– Over 16 million unique visitors per month globally
– Broad buyer base across sports, concerts, theater, and other events
– Heavily marketed to general public across channels
– Popular destination for last minute buyers
Ticketmaster Buyer Base
– 10+ million monthly unique visitors
– Caters heavily to sports & concert buyers
– Less marketing presence beyond event pages
– Not a go-to for last minute ticket shoppers
While Ticketmaster also draws millions of buyers, StubHub’s greater visibility with buyers, smarter marketing, and tools that enable last minute ticket purchases give them the larger and more engaged buyer audience overall. This means your tickets are likely to get more views and interest on StubHub compared to Ticketmaster.
Event Inventory Differences
StubHub and Ticketmaster take slightly different approaches when it comes to the inventory of tickets for sale on their marketplaces. This impacts the variety of events covered on each site.
StubHub Event Inventory
– Broad selection of tickets spanning sports, concerts, theater, comedy shows, and more
– Less NFL, NBA, NHL, and other sport league inventory due to Ticketmaster partnerships
– Wide array of smaller local events like minor league sports, festivals, and concerts
Ticketmaster Event Inventory
– Exclusive ticket resale rights with NFL, NBA, NHL, and many major event venues
– Large supply of tickets for top tier sporting events and concerts
– Less diversity across theater, comedy, smaller local events, etc.
Ticketmaster’s close relationships with major sports leagues, teams, and large venues give them better supply around high demand events like big name pro sports and concerts. StubHub has fewer direct deals with top tier organizations, but makes up for it with a wider selection of tickets for other live entertainment like theater shows, comedy acts, festivals, and smaller scale local happenings. Sellers should factor the event type into choosing which site is best to post their tickets.
Ease of Listing Tickets for Sale
Posting tickets for sale needs to be quick and painless on a secondary ticket marketplace. Here’s how StubHub and Ticketmaster compare when it comes to the seller listing experience:
StubHub
– Streamlined mobile app and web listing flows
– Enter event, section, row, seat numbers
– Pricing guidance based on demand
– Block unwanted buyers (rival teams, etc)
– Requires seller verification
Ticketmaster
– Bulk upload via Ticketmaster account
– Some manual entry of ticket details
– Less pricing guidance – up to seller
– No screening of buyers
– Verification not always required
StubHub offers intuitive listing options via mobile and web, helpful pricing suggestions as you post, and the ability to control who buys your tickets. The required seller verification also inspires buyer trust. Ticketmaster makes it easy to bulk list tickets already in your account, but has fewer tools optimizing the sale process afterwards.
Payment Processing and Payouts
Getting paid quickly and conveniently is a top priority for sellers using a ticket marketplace. Here are key details on how StubHub and Ticketmaster handle payments:
StubHub
– Payments processed upon ticket delivery
– Payouts initiated within 48 business hours
– Choice of payout via PayPal, check, or direct deposit
Ticketmaster
– Delayed payouts up to 21 days after event
– Check or direct deposit only for payouts
– Must wait for buyer receipt verification
One big difference is StubHub sends seller payouts within two business days of a ticket being delivered, while Ticketmaster can take up to three weeks after an event to disburse earnings. StubHub also offers PayPal instant payouts as an option, while Ticketmaster requires bank payouts. Overall, StubHub enables sellers to get paid significantly faster.
Seller Support and Resources
Reliable customer service and seller education are helpful advantages when using a ticket marketplace. Comparing StubHub vs Ticketmaster, StubHub dedicates more focus to supporting sellers:
| Seller Support | StubHub | Ticketmaster |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Chat Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Response Time | Quick | Can be slow |
StubHub provides phone, chat, and email support with quick response times, even for non-urgent issues. Ticketmaster only offers email support, and some sellers report long wait times.
StubHub also creates helpful resources to guide sellers, like webinars, how-to content, and user conferences. Ticketmaster has fewer educational resources tailored for sellers.
Conclusion
While both StubHub and Ticketmaster are reputable online marketplaces, for most ticket sellers, StubHub represents the better choice of platform thanks to:
– Lower seller fees – 10% vs. 15-20% on Ticketmaster
– Better buyer guarantees driving more sales
– More pricing guidance and seller tools
– Faster payments with ability to use PayPal instant transfers
– Very responsive seller support system
– Larger buyer audience across more event types
Ticketmaster remains a solid sales channel, especially if you have exclusive tickets to high demand sporting events or concerts where buyer demand is guaranteed. But for the average seller, StubHub simplifies the resale process, reduces fees, and offers a superior overall seller experience.
Before committing long term to either marketplace, we recommend new sellers test sell a few tickets on both StubHub and Ticketmaster to compare for themselves. But based on the comprehensive features and seller-focused strategy, StubHub appears the better pick for selling event tickets online.