StubHub’s mission is simple: help fans find fun. As one of the world’s leading ticket resale sites, StubHub has successfully accomplished that mission since its creation in 2000. When eBay purchased StubHub in 2007, the mission of eBay’s Government Relations team expanded to help ensure StubHub can continue to help fans find fun! 

In recent years, the ability of StubHub to fulfill its mission has been complicated by various anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices witnessed in the primary ticket market. Through technology, the terms and conditions put on the initial sale of tickets, and various delivery mechanisms, the primary ticket market has attempted to use its position to control the secondary market as well. The result? Higher prices and limited choice for consumers when it comes to buying and reselling tickets. 

In conjunction with our partners at StubHub, the eBay Government Relations teams has launched a comprehensive and proactive campaign to fight back. Through litigation, enforcement outreach, and legislative initiatives, eBay is working hard to protect the rights of fans everywhere.  Our areas of focus include:

• Deregulation: eBay is working to update the law in Massachusetts and Michigan to make the resale of tickets at the market rate legal. 
• Securing a Free and Open Ticket Market: eBay is pursuing legislation in Maryland, Missouri, and New Jersey to ensure the primary ticket market is prohibited from restricting or penalizing fans for reselling tickets on the platform of their choice.  
• Protecting Fans: In addition to pursuing legislation, eBay is working with state legislatures – particularly in Tennessee – to stop legislation that may have a negative impact on fans and the platforms they use to buy and sell tickets. 

In addition to working with various U.S. states, the eBay Government Relations team is working with national policy makers to protect the rights of fans at the federal level as well.