StubHub to Pay Customers $10M in FTC Settlement

Ticket resale platform accused of deceptive pricing practices during NFL schedule release

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:18pm

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a stack of event tickets, a calculator, and a magnifying glass arranged on a clean white background, conceptually representing the abstract issues of ticket pricing and consumer protection in the live events industry.A settlement over deceptive ticket pricing practices highlights the ongoing challenges of transparency in the live events industry.NYC Today

Ticket exchange and resale company StubHub has agreed to pay $10 million to customers to settle a deceptive ticket pricing case with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC accused StubHub of failing to display mandatory fees and charges, including for high-demand NFL tickets, during a three-day period in May 2025 when the NFL schedule was announced.

Why it matters

The FTC settlement underscores the importance of price transparency in the live event ticketing industry, where hidden fees and charges have long been a source of frustration for consumers. The case highlights the FTC's efforts to enforce rules requiring all-in pricing to be displayed upfront.

The details

According to the FTC, during mid-May 2025, StubHub failed to show mandatory fees and charges, 'including high-demand National Football League tickets in the lead-up to when the NFL schedule was announced on May 14, 2025.' An injunction filed in the Southern District of New York orders StubHub to make payments to eligible customers who bought tickets between May 12 and 14, 2025.

  • The alleged violations occurred between May 12-14, 2025.
  • The NFL schedule was announced on May 14, 2025.

The players

StubHub

A ticket exchange and resale platform that has agreed to pay $10 million to customers to settle the FTC's deceptive pricing case.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The U.S. government consumer protection agency that accused StubHub of violating rules requiring all-in ticket pricing to be displayed upfront.

Christopher Mufarrige

An FTC official who stated that price transparency is essential for a free and competitive marketplace.

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What they’re saying

“Price transparency is essential to a free and competitive marketplace. Today's settlement underscores the Commission's commitment to ensuring that consumers pay the price they are promised.”

— Christopher Mufarrige, FTC Official

“We have long supported all-in pricing because it provides clarity for fans. This settlement covers a limited number of transactions, spanning just three days in May 2025, where some listings on our site may have displayed ticket prices exclusive of fees. While we strongly disagree with the FTC's view of the case, we are addressing their concerns by refunding a portion of those buyers' fees.”

— StubHub Spokesperson

What’s next

The order states that StubHub must notify customers within 14 days using the last known email address associated with the initial ticket purchase, and refund the fees paid by eligible customers.

The takeaway

This settlement highlights the FTC's ongoing efforts to enforce transparency in the live event ticketing industry, where hidden fees and charges have long been a source of frustration for consumers. The case underscores the importance of all-in pricing to provide clarity and fairness for fans purchasing tickets.