(July 3): Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into StubHub following reports that some fans who bought World Cup tickets through the resale platform had their orders cancelled just before kick-off.
His office said on Friday it had received complaints from consumers who believed they had secured seats for matches, only to be told at short-notice that their tickets were no longer available. Paxton said the probe will examine whether StubHub misled customers or failed to deliver tickets that had already been purchased.
StubHub is one of the world’s largest ticket resale marketplaces, connecting buyers with third-party sellers. The company has previously blamed so-called ghost ticketing problems on issues connected to Fifa’s own ticketing platform, according to the attorney general’s statement, and an AP media report.
The investigation comes amid heightened demand for World Cup tickets and growing scrutiny of secondary ticketing platforms, where fans often pay above face value for access to major sporting and entertainment events.
Fifa has faced criticism over the cost and accessibility of World Cup tickets. Last month, Paxton also launched an investigation into whether Fifa misled fans regarding the location and quality of seats for matches at the tournament. In May, New York and New Jersey attorneys general opened their own investigation into Fifa’s ticketing practices.
Switzerland-based Fifa has urged fans to use its own marketplace to buy resold tickets. Football’s governing body charges 15% from both the buyer and seller for each transaction.
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Paxton said his office would seek to determine whether StubHub’s practices violated Texas consumer protection laws. A number of World Cup games have been played in Dallas and Houston, with the semi-final set to be held in Dallas on July 14.
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