FTC, StubHub Reach $10M Settlement Over Ticket Price Transparency

The settlement resolves allegations that StubHub violated an FTC rule by not showing the total price of tickets.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:56pm

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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, monochromatic background, symbolizing the need for transparency in ticket pricing.A close examination of ticket pricing reveals the complex financial strategies behind the live events industry.NYC Today

The Federal Trade Commission and StubHub have reached a $10 million settlement over allegations that StubHub concealed the actual, total prices of tickets on its platform over a three-day period in May 2025. The FTC claimed StubHub violated its Fees Rule, which requires total price disclosure for ticket sales.

Why it matters

The settlement highlights ongoing tensions between ticket sellers and consumers over the transparency of ticket pricing and fees. It comes as some fans have expressed frustration over high service fees for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, underscoring the broader issue of ticket price transparency in the live events industry.

The details

According to the FTC's complaint, StubHub delayed full compliance with the Fees Rule to take advantage of the NFL posting its 2025 season schedule that same week, a '99th percentile traffic event' for the company. The FTC alleged that while StubHub displayed itemized ticket, fee, and tax prices, it did not show the total price consumers would ultimately pay.

  • The FTC's Fees Rule went into effect on May 12, 2025.
  • The alleged violations by StubHub occurred over a three-day period in May 2025.

The players

Federal Trade Commission

The U.S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers and promoting competition.

StubHub

An online ticket marketplace and a subsidiary of eBay.

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What’s next

The settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing battle over ticket price transparency, as consumers demand clarity on the total cost of tickets, including fees, while ticket sellers seek to maintain pricing strategies that may obscure the true cost. The settlement underscores the FTC's commitment to enforcing its rules on total price disclosure, which could lead to more litigation in the live events industry.