Ticket resales seem to be going good for StubHub as the ticket reseller is aiming for a very lucrative mutli-billion dollar valuation. StubHub is aiming to raise as much as $851 million in its initial public offering, giving it a valuation of up to $9.2 billion, the company revealed in a new filing on Monday.
StubHub was founded in 2000 by Eric Baker and Jeff Fluhr as one of the first major online marketplaces dedicated to buying and selling event tickets. The idea emerged from the founders’ frustration with traditional ticket resale options and the need for a safer, more transparent platform to connect ticket buyers and sellers directly.
Based in San Francisco originally, StubHub quickly grew by leveraging technology to offer real-time ticket availability, secure transactions, and customer protections, setting a new standard in the secondary ticket market.
In 2007, StubHub was acquired by eBay, which helped expand its global reach and infrastructure. Over the years, StubHub became the largest ticket resale platform worldwide, offering tickets for sports, concerts, theater, and other live events. It distinguished itself by providing guarantees on ticket authenticity and a user-friendly interface, attracting millions of users.
READ: Digital banking startup Chime aims for $9.5 billion valuation in IPO (
In 2020, eBay sold StubHub to Viagogo (now part of the Swiss company Global Group) as part of a strategic refocus. Today, StubHub continues to innovate in live event ticketing, preparing to enter public markets and navigating regulatory challenges amid evolving industry dynamics.
The ticket reselling marketplace plans to sell more than 34 million shares priced between $22 and $25 per share, according to the filing.
StubHub’s upcoming IPO and multi-billion dollar valuation highlight the growing strength and resilience of the ticket resale market. As one of the earliest and largest players in the space, StubHub’s journey from a startup frustrated with traditional ticket resale methods to a global platform valued near $9 billion underscores the increasing demand for secure, transparent secondary ticket marketplaces.
This public offering reflects investors’ confidence in the long-term potential of ticket reselling, despite ongoing regulatory scrutiny and operational challenges. The planned sale of over 34 million shares also signals StubHub’s ambition to expand its influence and innovate further, potentially reshaping how consumers buy and sell event tickets in a digital-first world.
For reseller platforms broadly, StubHub’s IPO could be a watershed moment that could fuel competition and encourage innovation across the industry. The secondary ticket market is evolving rapidly, with consumers expecting better pricing transparency, authenticity guarantees, and streamlined user experiences. StubHub’s success, alongside rising valuations, may inspire emerging competitors and incumbents alike to invest more heavily in technology, customer service, and regulatory compliance to maintain relevance and trust.
READ: Figma targets $18.8 billion valuation in US IPO (
StubHub had sought a $16.5 billion valuation before it began the IPO process, CNBC previously reported.
Scaling back to around $9 billion, signals the challenges these platforms face, from increased regulatory oversight to shifts in consumer behavior. StubHub’s upcoming public debut will serve as a litmus test for the resilience of ticket reseller platforms — measuring their ability to adapt to a shifting marketplace and the willingness of investors to back secondary exchanges in a competitive entertainment economy.
The company’s emphasis on user experience, ticket authenticity and global expansion has positioned it for potential profitability. But the broader resale industry faces regulatory scrutiny and growing consumer demands for greater pricing transparency and clearer fee disclosures.
Beyond gauging investor appetite, StubHub’s IPO is expected to set a benchmark for other platforms eyeing public offerings, marking a new phase of maturity — and scrutiny — in the ticket resale market.