The Federal Trade Commission and seven states sued Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, alleging Ticketmaster engaged in illegal ticket resale tactics that cost consumers billions of dollars https://t.co/ntUnX4ywIS ...

Core Viewpoint - The FTC has accused Live Nation and Ticketmaster of violating the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, highlighting concerns over deceptive practices and the use of automated bots in ticket sales [1] Group 1: Legal Allegations - The FTC claims that Live Nation and Ticketmaster engaged in deceptive practices in the marketplace, which is prohibited under the FTC Act [1] - The companies are also accused of violating the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, a law aimed at preventing the use of automated bots for ticket purchases and reselling at inflated prices [1]

Core Points - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment for alleged illegal ticket resale practices [1][2] - The lawsuit claims that these companies collaborated with scalpers to unlawfully purchase tickets, which has led to increased profits at the expense of consumers [1][2] - The FTC highlights that Ticketmaster controls approximately 80% of ticketing for major concert venues and that consumers have spent over $82 billion on tickets through the platform from 2019 to 2024 [2] Summary by Sections - **Lawsuit Details** - The lawsuit was filed in federal court in California, with seven states, including Florida, Illinois, and Virginia, joining the action [1] - The FTC accuses Ticketmaster and Live Nation of working with scalpers to manipulate ticket sales [1] - **Impact on Consumers and Artists** - The lawsuit states that the illegal practices frustrate artists' efforts to keep ticket prices affordable for average American families, costing fans millions annually [2] - **Market Control** - Ticketmaster's dominance in the market is emphasized, controlling around 80% of major concert venue ticketing [2] - The significant consumer spending of over $82 billion on tickets through Ticketmaster from 2019 to 2024 is noted [2]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster for allegedly allowing ticket brokers to violate policies, resulting in millions of concert tickets being sold to fans at inflated prices [1] Group 1 - The lawsuit claims that Live Nation and Ticketmaster tacitly permitted ticket brokers to bypass their policies [1] - The agency highlighted that this practice led to significant markups on tickets sold to fans [1] - The action taken by the FTC indicates a regulatory push against perceived unfair practices in the ticketing industry [1]

Core Insights - StubHub Holdings Inc. had a challenging debut on the New York Stock Exchange, with shares opening at $24.50/$25.50, an increase of up to 8.5% from the initial offering price of $23.50, but ultimately closing down 6.4% at $22 after raising $800 million in its IPO [1][2]. Company Performance - StubHub's IPO was oversubscribed multiple times, indicating strong investor interest [5]. - The company reported a net loss of $76 million on revenue of $827.9 million for the first half of 2025, compared to a net loss of $24 million on revenue of $803.5 million in the same period of 2024 [7]. - Gross merchandise sales increased to $4.4 billion in the first half of 2025, up from $3.9 billion in the same period last year [7]. Market Context - The US IPO market has been robust recently, raising approximately $5.3 billion since the Labor Day holiday, excluding special purpose acquisition companies [4]. - StubHub's IPO comes amid increased scrutiny of the ticket industry, particularly regarding practices at Live Nation Inc.'s Ticketmaster, which is under investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission [8]. Strategic Moves - StubHub has shifted focus towards new ticket issuance, which currently represents a small portion of its sales, and has entered a multi-year partnership with Major League Baseball to offer tickets to games [6].

Core Insights - StubHub Holdings, Inc. made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange with an opening price of $25.35 per share after pricing its IPO at $23.50, raising $800 million for the company [1][2][3] IPO Launch - The IPO was priced at $23.50 per share, generating $800 million for StubHub [2] - StubHub's stock trades under the ticker symbol STUB, marking a successful entry after two postponements due to market conditions [3] Market Context - The listing contributes to a recent surge in tech IPOs as the U.S. market recovers from a period of inactivity, with several companies going public in recent months [4] Investors - Madrone Partners was the largest shareholder before the IPO, holding 24.5% of Class A STUB shares, followed by WestCap with 12.3% and Bessemer Venture Partners with 8.8% [5] Financial Performance - StubHub's revenue primarily comes from ticket sales, with over 40 million tickets sold in 2024 by around one million sellers [6] - In Q1 2025, revenue increased by 10% year-over-year to $397.6 million, although the company reported a net loss of $35.9 million compared to a loss of $29.7 million the previous year [6] - Gross merchandise sales reached $2.08 billion during the same period [6] Price Action - On the first day of trading, StubHub shares fell by 4.8% to $22.37 [7]

Core Insights - SEGG Media Corporation has appointed Simon Lewis, former President of Live Nation Europe, to a senior consultancy role to oversee the strategic development of Concerts.com and TicketStub.com following a $10 million acquisition of these platforms [1][2][3] Company Developments - The appointment of Simon Lewis is aimed at accelerating SEGG Media's positioning in the ticketing, content, and live streaming sectors, leveraging his extensive experience in the live entertainment industry [2][3] - SEGG Media's strategy focuses on rapid growth and smart development, with plans to differentiate its ticketing platforms from competitors and build a new customer base [3] Industry Context - There is significant excitement in the live entertainment industry, which SEGG Media aims to capitalize on through strategic partnerships and brand integrations [3] - Simon Lewis's background includes pivotal roles in shaping the global concert industry and advising on major acquisitions, enhancing SEGG Media's credibility in the market [4]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StubHub Holdings, Inc. ("StubHub"), a leading global secondary ticketing marketplace for live events, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 34,042,553 shares of its Class A common stock at a public offering price of $23.50 per share. In addition, StubHub has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 5,106,382 shares of its Class A common stock at the initial public offering ...

Company Overview - StubHub is pursuing an IPO aiming for a valuation of $9.2 billion, transitioning from a secondary market to a direct primary ticket sales platform [1][3] - The company seeks to raise up to $851 million in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange [1][3] Financial Performance - StubHub reported $1.77 billion in revenue for 2024, a 30% increase from $1.37 billion in 2023 [4] - However, profitability has declined, with a loss of $2.8 million in 2024 compared to a profit of $405 million in 2023 [5] - Adjusted EBITDA margins fell from 26% in 2023 to 17% in 2024, and further to 12% in the first half of 2025, below the long-term goal of 35-40% [5] Market Dynamics - The ticketing industry is experiencing a shift, with StubHub aiming to capitalize on the $153 billion primary ticket sales market while facing competition from Ticketmaster [3][9] - Ticketmaster is under scrutiny from regulators regarding compliance with the BOTS Act, which could impact its operations and market position [6][8] Consumer Trends - High-income households are reallocating discretionary spending towards live entertainment, indicating a shift towards an "experience-first" economy [10] - There is a widening gap in demand, with premium events remaining strong while middle-income households are reducing spending [11] - Consumers value reliable digital access, suggesting that platforms providing smooth purchasing experiences are likely to build lasting loyalty [11]

The StubHub logo on a laptop arranged in New York, US, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. StubHub Inc., the operator of ticketing resale platforms StubHub and Viagogo, is preparing for a US initial public offering that could come as soon as July. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg `` ```` StubHub Holdings Inc. is hoping to excite investors ahead of its initial public offering with its plan to expand its business selling new tickets for sports and other live events. `` `` The company, which is primarily a marketp ...