OutKick founder Clay Travis joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to touch upon sports activities streaming and a report of Justice Department’s probing the NFL over streaming offers.
StubHub will refund $10 million to consumers and revamp the way it shows ticket costs after the Federal Trade Commission accused the corporate of deceptively promoting live-event tickets with out totally disclosing obligatory fees upfront.
“The Commission’s Fees Rule makes it very clear that the total price of live-event tickets must be disclosed up-front to enable consumers to make fully informed purchasing decisions,” FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige wrote in an announcement. “Price transparency is essential to a free and competitive marketplace. Today’s settlement underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that consumers pay the price they are promised.”
The firm had marketed ticket costs on its web site throughout a three-day stretch final May “without clearly and conspicuously disclosing up-front how much consumers actually would pay, including all mandatory fees,” the FTC wrote in a complaint and proposed settlement filed within the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
NFL FANS CALL THE LEAGUE’S STREAMING STRATEGY A ‘MONEY GRAB’ AS COSTS SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL
The window of a StubHub workplace in midtown Manhattan.
A StubHub spokesperson mentioned the corporate disagreed with the FTC’s view of the case however is refunding a portion of affected buyers’ fees to tackle the company’s considerations.
“This settlement covers a limited number of transactions, spanning just three days in May 2025, where some listings on our site may have displayed ticket prices exclusive of fees,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The company started enforcing its “Fees Rule” in May 2025, requiring companies to clearly disclose the full value of live-event tickets.
NFL FACES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE AFTER FANS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH STREAMING PIVOT: REPORT
The FTC mentioned it had sent a warning letter to the ticketing platform after the rule was shaped.
Through this settlement, the corporate will present financial aid to eligible consumers and the order additionally requires StubHub to disclose the full value extra prominently on its platform.
The company has elevated its enforcement efforts following the Trump administration’s executive order on ticketing in March of final yr, which directs the FTC to “take appropriate action… to ensure price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process, including the secondary ticketing market.”
NFL FOX analyst Drew Brees and Sports Illustrated Tickets CEO David Lane preview the Super Bowl, focus on ticket costs and extra on ‘Varney & Co.’
KID ROCK SLAMS EVENT TICKETING SYSTEM AS A ‘COMPLETE FIASCO’ FOR CONCERT FANS
“My administration is dedicated to making as accessible as doable the humanities and leisure that enrich Americans’ lives,” Trump’s order mentioned. “The rent-seeking behaviors surrounding the ticketing industry are contrary to this goal. They are detrimental to consumers and capitalize on market distortions that must not be allowed to persist.”
The FTC highlighted gross sales of high-demand NFL tickets round May 14, 2025, when the league schedule was introduced, for example of the alleged violations.
The settlement would require StubHub to fund a $10 million shopper redress program for eligible consumers who bought tickets for U.S. dwell occasions between May 12 and 14, 2025. Within 90 days of the order, the corporate should present refunds to two teams: consumers whose complete ticket value was not disclosed on the preliminary pricing show, and all different consumers who purchased tickets throughout that interval.
Andrew Ferguson grew to become the FTC chair beneath President Donald Trump’s second administration. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Getty)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Beyond the financial aid, the proposed order would bar StubHub from misrepresenting the full value of products or providers, the character or quantity of fees, the ultimate fee quantity, and different materials information, together with refund and cancellation phrases.
The fee voted 2-0 to authorize the grievance and stipulated ultimate order. The case was filed in federal courtroom within the Southern District of New York. The settlement will take impact if accepted by a district courtroom decide.
