StubHub

Watch out Stage 2

StubHub (and resale generally) proves markets clear—you can get a seat. Users pay for certainty and escrow, and in 2026 the FTC made it refund $10 million in hidden fees. One documented extraction criterion. Stage 2.

Since
2000
Category
Events
VC-backed
Yes
Public
Since 2025 (NYSE: STUB)
Website
stubhub.com
X
@StubHub

Why it’s rated 2

The criteria it meets, with sources · Method

Alignment 0 of 3
None
Lock-in 0 of 4
None
Extraction 1 of 7
Decline 0 of 3
None

Result No extraction that meets the stage 3 test, and either some lock-in or no alignment criterion, so stage 2.

Rating history

Oct 6, 2026
Upgraded 3 Ripping you off → 2 Watch out

Rescored under Method 2.1. One extraction criterion (E4 Hidden costs and dark patterns) without lock-in falls short of the stage 3 test. Without an alignment criterion it cannot be stage 1.

News signals

Sourced reporting, tagged by strategy

Apr 9, 2026
StubHub refunds $10 million in fees to settle FTC deceptive-pricing case
Drip pricingRegulatory risk
Sep 17, 2025
StubHub opens trading on NYSE after $800 million IPO
Liquidity event
Feb 13, 2020
eBay completes sale of StubHub to viagogo
Market consolidation