Some Brewers fans paid thousands to witness history at the World Series opener. Then they got a crushing message about their tickets.
Several fans who bought StubHub tickets for World Series Game 1 on Oct. 23 say their seats are no longer available. Screenshots posted on social media show order confirmations, followed by messages from StubHub saying the tickets couldn’t be delivered.
With the Brewers in their first World Series in 44 years, Game 1 resale prices started at over $2,000 per ticket.
Here’s what we know so far about the cancellations, what the company promises buyers and how to protect yourself.
What did StubHub say about the Game 1 orders that fell through?
A StubHub spokesperson told Public Investigator that sellers “were unable to complete a limited number of World Series orders.” The company did not say how many orders were affected or why the sellers couldn’t complete them.
StubHub said it has contacted everyone affected, and is “securing replacement tickets where available, with full refunds as a backstop.”
What is StubHub, and how does it work?
StubHub is an online marketplace where people buy and sell tickets to sports, concerts and other events. Sellers set the prices, and the company handles the payment.
Sellers receive payment five to eight days after the event, and StubHub says they collect only if the buyer gets in.
What does StubHub guarantee when tickets fall through?
Every ticket purchased through StubHub automatically comes with its FanProtect Guarantee.
According to StubHub, if tickets are invalid, don’t arrive in time or can’t get you into the event, the company will either find comparable or better replacement tickets or give you a full refund.
How can I avoid ticket scams?
Separate from the StubHub cancellations, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection warned on Oct. 9 that high demand for playoff tickets creates openings for scammers selling fakes.
According to the department, here are some ways to avoid ticket scams:
- Start with official sellers. Brewers postseason tickets are sold at brewers.com/postseason, by phone at 414-902-4000 and through the Major League Baseball Ballpark app.
- Pay with a credit card. The department says cards come with federal fraud protection and ways to dispute charges. It advises against cash, debit cards, wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency and payment apps like Venmo or Cash App.
- Insist on in-app transfers. Skip PDFs, printouts and screenshots of barcodes.
- Watch for red flags. Those include prices far below market, pressure to pay right now, and sellers on social media or classified ads. Scammers hack real accounts and pose as friends, so call or text a friend directly to confirm a sale.
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at qclark@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Some fans lose Brewers World Series tickets after StubHub issue
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