Question about stubhub for broadway tickets

[lostphantom]

I have been following stubhub prices for several shows and I noticed that everyday by 3pm the number of tickets on stubhub for that day's show decreases dramatically (from 100 tickets to 4 tickets). Usually the tickets that disappeared are the ones with rediculously high prices. Does anyone know what is going on there? Are those phantom tickets there so that ppl have the impression that they are buying “good deal” tickets? Just curious..

[macnyc]

I noticed that too, the other day. I don't have an answer.

[LxGstv]

I noticed it yesterday for the first time. Maybe to give the impression that tickets are going fast and encourage people to buy them?! I don’t know.

I used StubHub once for selling a ticket and my listing would not appear until I had delivered them the tickets... so I do find the whole thing a bit odd...

[haterobics]

I think there are automated systems that post tickets found on other sites with marked-up prices on StubHub. So if you buy that ticket, they just go and buy it elsewhere for less, and then upload it to StubHub for delivery. Not sure if StubHub is doing that, or some enterprising techgeek.

Not all StubHub listings require you to have the ticket in advance.

[comets]

The cheapest ticket for Friday's Three Tall Women is now $750, you cannot help believe that is' so fake. I could take a 5 days cruise for that. For that amount of money, Laurie Metcalf should invite me over for dinner. 

[Melissa25]

And before 3pm the hoards of tickets listed have the non-electronic ticket designation of “pick-up” so I think the producers of the show are now setting aside  a % of tickets to sell on Stubhub at triple and quadruple the price.  When they don’t sell by 3pm they are removed and probably made available to TKTS.

 

 

 

[Stage Door Sally]

I believe the seller can tell StubHub when to stop advertising their tickets. So perhaps that is what is happening.

[Wick3]

I've noticed this for the past few years. I've never had an issue with any ticket I've bought from stubhub so I believe those tickets are real and genuine (not phantom.) Those also tend to be really good center orch seats too.

It's probably a mix of people who have tickets and willing to see the show but do not mind reselling them at skyhigh 3-5x the face value price. If they sell, then that's great! If not, then they'll still see the show.

Without transparency to the public, we won't ever really know. 

[rangersrule132]

What it looks like at times is that shows are putting their lottery tickets up on stubhub for higher prices and if they sell they sell and if not they pull them down for the lottery. I first noticed it with CATS especially because they would have around 70-100 tickets up on stubhub for a show and once 3pm (when the lottery would draw) would roll around that number would be cut to 3-5 tickets. Obviously, I don’t know for sure that the show is putting these tickets up but it sure looks like it.

[TheCooler]

a few responses got it correct.  heres the answer:

almost every show, the producer (or whomever). sets aside some of the prime center orchestra seats and posts on Stubhub, often for 2-4x list price of ticket.  then within a week of the show...sometimes same day. sometimes 3 days before, etc..it can vary.  tickets are pulled off Stubhub and will hit the ticketmaster or telecharge map at usually the premium price of the ticket.  this is a way for the show to juice up ticket sales without having to list on the map at $750 ticket...which, i am sure you know will upset many theatergoers.    The show keeps this information on the DL.  I do not know for sure but I assume they have a contract (deal) with stubhub much like some NFL teams too.   This way of selling tickets is extremely lucrative for the theaters.    hope this explanation helps!  

[ellbellthomps]

comets said: "The cheapest ticket for Friday's Three Tall Women is now $750, you cannot help believe that is' so fake. I could take a 5 days cruise for that. For that amount of money, Laurie Metcalf should invite me over for dinner."

I looked at Miss Saigon and about 5 hours before the show the only tickets that were avaliable were last row mezz for $25,000!!

[Lot666]

TheCooler said: "a few responses got it correct. heres the answer:

almost every show, the producer (or whomever). sets aside some of the prime center orchestra seats and posts on Stubhub, often for 2-4x list price of ticket. then within a week of the show...sometimes same day. sometimes 3 days before, etc..it can vary. tickets are pulled off Stubhub and will hit the ticketmaster or telecharge map at usually the premium price of the ticket. this is a way for the show to juice up ticket sales without having to list on the map at $750 ticket...which, i am sure you know will upset many theatergoers. The show keeps this information on the DL. I do not know for sure but I assume they have a contract (deal) with stubhub much like some NFL teams too. This way of selling tickets is extremely lucrative for the theaters. hope this explanation helps!"

This sounds quite plausible, but may I ask what your source is?

[(Insert Clever Name)]

StubHub is good last minute for shows where scalpers bought too much, like TBV and prices fall b4 curtain.

[TheCooler]

Lot666 said: "TheCooler said: "a few responses got it correct. heres the answer:

almost every show, the producer (or whomever). sets aside some of the prime center orchestra seats and posts on Stubhub, often for 2-4x list price of ticket. then within a week of the show...sometimes same day. sometimes 3 days before, etc..it can vary. tickets are pulled off Stubhub and will hit the ticketmaster or telecharge map at usually the premium price of the ticket. this is a way for the show to juice up ticket sales without having to list on the map at $750 ticket...which, i am sure you know will upset many theatergoers. The show keeps this information on the DL. I do not know for sure but I assume they have a contract (deal) with stubhub much like some NFL teams too. This way of selling tickets is extremely lucrative for the theaters. hope this explanation helps!"

This sounds quite plausible, but may I ask what your source is?"

my own research.  no inside source.    this is not something they will admit to or advertise.  

[JSquared2]

TheCooler said: "a few responses got it correct. heres the answer:

almost every show, the producer (or whomever). sets aside some of the prime center orchestra seats and posts on Stubhub, often for 2-4x list price of ticket. then within a week of the show...sometimes same day. sometimes 3 days before, etc..it can vary. tickets are pulled off Stubhub and will hit the ticketmaster or telecharge map at usually the premium price of the ticket. this is a way for the show to juice up ticket sales without having to list on the map at $750 ticket...which, i am sure you know will upset many theatergoers. The show keeps this information on the DL. I do not know for sure but I assume they have a contract (deal) with stubhub much like some NFL teams too. This way of selling tickets is extremely lucrative for the theaters. hope this explanation helps!"

 

Nice conspiracy theory.  Too bad it's completely false.

 

[Wick3]

I'm not surprised at all with what you said, TheCooler. In another thread on Boys in the Band, someone noticed the same thing happening with lots of tickets on stubhub but I mentioned that they'll most likely disappear a few days before. I had a hunch that the box office and stubhub probably has some sort of deal and they work together to some degree. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

I do know some house or comp tickets end up on stubhub somehow. A month ago I bought a $30 Rocktopia ticket fifteen minutes before the show started. I thought I got a great deal since it was in center orchestra row J but when I got the ticket, the face value was $0.00 since it was a comp and whoever originally received it opted to put it on stubhub. Regardless, it was a genuine real ticket and at the end of the day, that's what mattered. Oh and I loved the show and was definitely entertained!

[TheCooler]

JSquared2 said: "TheCooler said: "a few responses got it correct. heres the answer:

almost every show, the producer (or whomever). sets aside some of the prime center orchestra seats and posts on Stubhub, often for 2-4x list price of ticket. then within a week of the show...sometimes same day. sometimes 3 days before, etc..it can vary. tickets are pulled off Stubhub and will hit the ticketmaster or telecharge map at usually the premium price of the ticket. this is a way for the show to juice up ticket sales without having to list on the map at $750 ticket...which, i am sure you know will upset many theatergoers. The show keeps this information on the DL. I do not know for sure but I assume they have a contract (deal) with stubhub much like some NFL teams too. This way of selling tickets is extremely lucrative for the theaters. hope this explanation helps!"



Nice conspiracy theory. Too bad it's completely false.

lol...dont believe me..idc ,  but what i said is 100% TRUE, no conspiracy. 

 

 

[haterobics]

comets said: "The cheapest ticket for Friday's Three Tall Women is now $750, you cannot help believe that is' so fake."

How does a high price make it fake? It may not sell, but if anyone buys it, they will get in the show.

[Broadway Joe]

haterobics said: "comets said: "The cheapest ticket for Friday's Three Tall Women is now $750, you cannot help believe that is' so fake."

How does a high price make it fake? It may not sell, but if anyone buys it, they will get in the show."

Also to add to that if it was sold and the seller didn't fulfill the purchase they would be charged 40% against their credit card. If it's a fake ticket the seller would be charged even more from StubHub. It doesn't happen enough to make it worth worrying about.

The other thing is some people just list their tickets for sale for a ridiculous price and if it sells then they won't go. 

 

[haterobics]

Broadway Joe said: "The other thing is some people just list their tickets for sale for a ridiculous price and if it sells then they won't go."

I've missed many a show that way. Once I didn't have time to research what tickets were going to for a show, so I just listed it for an outrageous price and figured I'll bring it down later once I investigate. Returned home a few hours later, and it sold already. It ended up being one of the best seats available for that event, so even though it was more expensive, that primo location made all the difference for them, I guess.

[phantomcrazy14]

@TheCooler, I'm not 100% positive, but seeing as how most theatre's don't like when people purchase from secondary markets I'm not sure that your theory is correct.

However, when you do make a listing, it will fall off at a certain point close to the show unless you have the tickets uploaded or dropped off at the pickup office. And a lot of times those crazy priced ones are just sellers seeing if people will be dumb enough to buy it.

[moira8]

TheCooler said: "a few responses got it correct. heres the answer:

almost every show, the producer (or whomever). sets aside some of the prime center orchestra seats and posts on Stubhub, often for 2-4x list price of ticket. then within a week of the show...sometimes same day. sometimes 3 days before, etc..it can vary. tickets are pulled off Stubhub and will hit the ticketmaster or telecharge map at usually the premium price of the ticket. this is a way for the show to juice up ticket sales without having to list on the map at $750 ticket...which, i am sure you know will upset many theatergoers. The show keeps this information on the DL. I do not know for sure but I assume they have a contract (deal) with stubhub much like some NFL teams too. This way of selling tickets is extremely lucrative for the theaters. hope this explanation helps!"

Seems possible to me. I've been checking Come From Away tickets and everyday, there's a listing for Center Orchestra row K and G seats (no actual seat numbers). Same mode of ticket delivery (pickup/UPS), same price everyday (add $100 for weekend shows). And everyday, it disappears when I check again later in the afternoon. I've always thought it must be directly from the show since it's unlikely someone bought the same set of seats for every single performance.

[TheCooler]

phantomcrazy14 said: "@TheCooler, I'm not 100% positive, but seeing as how most theatre's don't like when people purchase from secondary markets I'm not sure that your theory is correct.

However, when you do make a listing, it will fall off at a certain point close to the show unless you have the tickets uploaded or dropped off at the pickup office. And a lot of times those crazy priced ones are just sellers seeing if people will be dumb enough to buy it."

yes. the theaters do claim they do not like the secondary markets.  that is what makes this all the more interesting...at least to me.  stubhub is another avenue that the theater can sell tickets on, just like they sell at TKTS, TDF, etc.  i have confirmed my theory many many times, that I am 100% confident it is correct.  no doubt in my mind.  

there was an article written before about this exact theory, i will try to find it and post it here.  

[haterobics]

TheCooler said: "yes. the theaters do claim they do not like the secondary markets. that is what makes this all the more interesting...at least to me."

But if the theater is the one selling them... is it still the secondary market?!

[Wick3]

Also, I wonder who keeps the extra money? If this does happen, I'd imagine that in the official accounting for Bway grosses, those center orch seats would just be shown as sold for premium pricing (i.e. $400 rather than the 2x-3x price normally found at stubhub).