Red Sox partner with StubHub

BoSoxLady

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Apr 24, 2003
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I received the following notice from the Red Sox today. The only option now for STH to sell tickets they can’t use is to use StubHub. Replay no longer exists. An offer to sell via StubHub will appear on our My Tickets account.

I’m guessing this change eliminates the $5 fee for STH that was credited to our account. I attempted to contact my rep but she’s out of the office until Tuesday.

The same letter came from the Red Sox in Fort Myers, so spring training games are also included.

“Dear Season Ticket Holders:

As you prepare for the 2018 regular season at Fenway Park we want to make you aware that we will again be able to offer an integrated ticket resale solution for our Season Ticket Holders. We just recently entered into a new, exclusive partnership with StubHub. The world’s largest ticket resale site will serve as the Boston Red Sox Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace. StubHub will be fully integrated into your My Tickets account for you to easily post tickets for games you are unable to attend. We are working with our partners at StubHub to execute the integration and are pushing hard to go live next week. We will notify you via email immediately after we are provided the exact day/time.

As you may recall, last season we offered Red Sox Replay (powered by Tickets.com) as the primary resale outlet for Season Ticket Holders. As a result of our exclusive agreement with StubHub, Red Sox Replay will no longer be available. While we were pleased to have been able to offer some incremental benefits via Red Sox Replay and did see some success – it became clear from surveys and general fan feedback that the vast majority of our Season Ticket base preferred StubHub.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Fenway Park in April!”
 

LoweTek

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May 30, 2005
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Curious, BSL, do the RS limit the asking price for tickets the STH resells, e.g. to face value? Or does StubHub set the price or the STH? How does it work in terms of the STH getting paid for their tickets? I am assuming StubHub is taking a fee for the service, some percentage of the sale price, I presume?
 

DaveRoberts'Shoes

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Curious, BSL, do the RS limit the asking price for tickets the STH resells, e.g. to face value? Or does StubHub set the price or the STH? How does it work in terms of the STH getting paid for their tickets? I am assuming StubHub is taking a fee for the service, some percentage of the sale price, I presume?
The seller sets whatever price they want, StubHub takes a percentage from both the seller and the buyer

I’m personally very happy with this - Red Sox Replay was a complete wasteland, almost all the tickets I listed there went unsold
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
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Jul 20, 2005
7,877
Boston, MA
What's good about having less choice? The appropriate response would have been for the Red Sox to drive traffic to Replay, which charged no fees to the sellers. Instead StubHub takes 30% of the transaction and sellers are almost guaranteed to take a loss. Craigslist and Ticket Toss are going to be my first choice this year.
 

BoSoxLady

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My liaison at the Red Sox informed me that sellers will be charged 10% by StubHub.

I had success using Replay and will miss it.
 

jaytftwofive

New Member
Jan 20, 2013
1,182
Drexel Hill Pa.
Has anyone bought from Vivid tickets? I've been trying to buy tickets for the Phillies-Red Sox on July 31st. This company seems to be the cheapest I just wondered if anyone has purchased tickets from them. (68.00 Grandstand for face value at Fenway vs 40 from Vivid) I called the Red Sox ticket office yesterday and they could not confirm or deny they were legit. I see them on other sites so I assume they're legit, I was just curious?
 

Lose Remerswaal

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I've seen many complaints about bait and switch with them, mostly on concert or theater tickets, and bad communication issues. Never seen anyone talk ascot sports.

And of course folks rarely go on line to say nice things about companies so the fact they have been around awhile suggests they are generally ok
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,428
Has anyone bought from Vivid tickets? I've been trying to buy tickets for the Phillies-Red Sox on July 31st. This company seems to be the cheapest I just wondered if anyone has purchased tickets from them. (68.00 Grandstand for face value at Fenway vs 40 from Vivid) I called the Red Sox ticket office yesterday and they could not confirm or deny they were legit. I see them on other sites so I assume they're legit, I was just curious?
Vivid is the second biggest name out there after stubhub. I prefer to buy from where there is integration with barcodes, etc.(so SH now, replay last 2 years) so I'm guessing seller has them on there for same/opposite reasons, so Red Sox don't know he/she is selling, if you can't find the same listing on SH.

So vivid is legit, but there's a chance you'll get similar/better (not same) tickets. Depends how much you're saving I guess.

Just make sure you're buying from "vividseats" and not "vivid" vivid
 

section15

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Mar 23, 2007
227
Bradford, MA and section 15
Last year - I had better success with StubHub than with Replay - probably because StubHub has national exposure, everyone who visits Boston wants to go to Fenway, etc. Someone coming up from, say, Texas, might not know about Replay - but they do know StubHub.
 

BoSoxLady

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My quarrel with the change to StubHub is that season ticket holders will be charged StubHub’s fees. Replay charged $5 per transaction and the $ went into your Red Sox account. The $ was applied to post-season tickets or season ticket renewal.

StubHub should give STH a break. They own the best seats.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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That's a legit gripe, I agree. Eventually the market corrects itself. The reckoning for pro sports face prices is coming.
 

Dewey'sCannon

Member
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Jul 18, 2005
869
Maryland
I came up last August and looked to buy Sox-Yankees tickets on short notice. There were a lot more seats available on Vivid and StubHub than on Replay, and I ended up getting them from Vivid because they were a little cheaper than SH, although I still paid through the nose, especially since I needed 5 seats for my wife and 3 kids. But had no issues with Vivid, and was able to download the tickets onto my phone.
 

Average Game James

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Apr 28, 2016
4,346
Even net of fees, I think StubHub worked out much better than Replay. Much higher probability of selling, ability to get better prices on premium games, and almost immediate payout from StubHub as opposed to funds sitting in your season ticket holder account all year adds up to a better overall marketplace, at least in my opinion. For context, I had to sell my Cubs tickets last year due to an unexpected family situation and barely got above face selling on Replay while comparable tickets on SH were selling for 30-40% higher. And I can’t count the number of times I had tickets set at the Replay minimum go unsold. It’s annoying to see SH shave 10% off the top, but I’d be very surprised if you end up worse off as a result of the change once you factor in better selling prices and much better chance of selling.
 

BigMike

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Sep 26, 2000
23,244
Has anyone bought from Vivid tickets? I've been trying to buy tickets for the Phillies-Red Sox on July 31st. This company seems to be the cheapest I just wondered if anyone has purchased tickets from them. (68.00 Grandstand for face value at Fenway vs 40 from Vivid) I called the Red Sox ticket office yesterday and they could not confirm or deny they were legit. I see them on other sites so I assume they're legit, I was just curious?
I've used Vivid before (not for Sox, but for Hamilton). It was fine. I would say you need to know what they whole end to end cost on Vivid is, because while the price looked lower for me from Vivid, by the time everything was said and done the cost was basically the same. I was fine with that as in that case they had a seat I wanted and Stubhub didn't have it.

Not sure how these places work, because for the most part I see the same seats available on all sites.
 

biollante

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At first I liked StubHub, but then Replay grew on me. Last year, I went to the playoffs for free due to what I banked with Replay. I think if you aren't too greedy, you can always sell your seats.
 

Hawk68

New Member
Feb 29, 2008
172
Massachusetts
That's a legit gripe, I agree. Eventually the market corrects itself. The reckoning for pro sports face prices is coming.

eBay FY17 figures show $1B revenue on $4.5B in value of merchandise sold. Gross margins are not reported at so low a level, but revenue as a percent of value of merchandise is 22% - plenty of cash for Red Sox and eBay.
 
Jul 30, 2013
3
Hanover, PA
Not sure where to post this, but I am looking to plan a trip up to Boston for my Father's retirement/65th birthday & bring along my son for his first Fenway experience. I have only seen 3 games there, two in 2001 (RF and LF foul territories) and one game in 2005 (1st base box - sat next to Terry Francona's son). I am reaching out to you experts for help & suggestions:

1. What are you favorite "bang-for-your-buck" seat locations?
2. Has anyone sat atop the monster & is it worth it? Asking even though I won't be able to afford it. It would be nice to surprise Dad with a wow factor.
3. I was planning on doing a Fenway tour & of course the Freedom Trail. Any other "touristy" suggestions for a 2-3 day trip? My son will be 8.
4. I am looking towards making the trip next June. Do any of you have tickets available, or know somebody that is selling? I realize it is a little early to be asking, but some season ticket holders may be making vacation plans.

Any help is much appreciated.
 

Reverend

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Jan 20, 2007
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Third base pavilion.

It’s an SRO deal but there are stools and a counter if you can get one which is in some ways better than many of the real seats. And you can move around, food and drink right behind you, chargers for phones, easy bathrooms, etc.

Especially if anyone is big or awkward (or both) it’s even more choice.
 

Green (Tongued) Monster

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Jun 2, 2016
1,004
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Third base pavilion.

It’s an SRO deal but there are stools and a counter if you can get one which is in some ways better than many of the real seats. And you can move around, food and drink right behind you, chargers for phones, easy bathrooms, etc.

Especially if anyone is big or awkward (or both) it’s even more choice.
Thanks Rev. I never would have considered those. If we get there when gates open, will we be able to get three seats at the counter together? I don't think my Dad or my son will enjoy standing all game.

Hoping for some additional feedback from others who frequent the park.
 

Reverend

for king and country
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Jan 20, 2007
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Thanks Rev. I never would have considered those. If we get there when gates open, will we be able to get three seats at the counter together? I don't think my Dad or my son will enjoy standing all game.

Hoping for some additional feedback from others who frequent the park.
Easily.

I expect others to find this thread and confirm--I learned about it from SoSHers who favor the area too.

In the last five years I have broken my back (lumbar compression fracture) and my left patella (game of leap frog turned tragic). I was at David Ortiz's last game at Fenway in a relative good seat and I suffered for it. Many of the seats in Fenway are harsh, and I say that as someone who adores the place. The pavillions kick ass though.

If you want to drop money, of course, now that I think about it there's the picnic areas which are easy sitting, though, come to think of it. Much pricier, I believe, but possible worth it for you; not as much interest to some here because they go to more games.

But some Fenway black belts are about who know better than I.
 

SoxVindaloo

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Feb 20, 2003
979
Titletown of the Aughts
Not sure where to post this, but I am looking to plan a trip up to Boston for my Father's retirement/65th birthday & bring along my son for his first Fenway experience. I have only seen 3 games there, two in 2001 (RF and LF foul territories) and one game in 2005 (1st base box - sat next to Terry Francona's son). I am reaching out to you experts for help & suggestions:

1. What are you favorite "bang-for-your-buck" seat locations?
2. Has anyone sat atop the monster & is it worth it? Asking even though I won't be able to afford it. It would be nice to surprise Dad with a wow factor.
3. I was planning on doing a Fenway tour & of course the Freedom Trail. Any other "touristy" suggestions for a 2-3 day trip? My son will be 8.
4. I am looking towards making the trip next June. Do any of you have tickets available, or know somebody that is selling? I realize it is a little early to be asking, but some season ticket holders may be making vacation plans.

Any help is much appreciated.
Monster Seats are amazing, but very pricey. I agree with 3rd base Pavillion. As far as seeing most of the field and not breaking the bank RF grandstand and RF Bleachers lower down are good. Around town with an 8 Year old I would say the Aquarium at Long Wharf and the Children's Museum on Fort Point Channel are must sees.
 

Minneapolis Millers

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Jul 15, 2005
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Want a road trip? Salem. Witch museum, pirate museum, House of Seven Gables (with awesome hidden staircase) - all fun for an 8 yo.
 

section15

Member
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Mar 23, 2007
227
Bradford, MA and section 15
Best bang for the buck? Difficult to say because it also depends on what YOU like.

I don't prefer Monster seats - IMHO overpriced.

But the Third Base Pavilion (Coke Pav) is pretty good.
Center field bleachers - especially uppers in center field that aren't under the jumbotron.
3rd base "outfield grandstand" that aren't behind a pole, check preciseseating.com for obstructions

Of course I prefer my grandstand seat - any infield grandstand seat with no or insignificant obstructions is obviously a good deal for the money.

In the post-season - all grandstand seats are the same price - AND - you get a discount over the general public. My infield grandstand seat at 1st base is $80 cheaper than one behind a pole in the wrong-way grandstands.

It CAN pay to cozy up to a season ticket holder. But the time to do it is in April. not September.
 

ponch73

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Monster Seats are amazing, but very pricey. I agree with 3rd base Pavillion. As far as seeing most of the field and not breaking the bank RF grandstand and RF Bleachers lower down are good. Around town with an 8 Year old I would say the Aquarium at Long Wharf and the Children's Museum on Fort Point Channel are must sees.
These are solid recommendations.

My family (including a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old) thought Boston's Children's Museum was outstanding and one of the best we've visited anywhere. So, I would suggest putting it at or near the top of your list.

I'd also recommend the Tea Party Museum (especially if your 8 old is a "Hamilton" fan), the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, Swan Boats and the Make Way for Ducklings statues at the Boston Public Garden, and Castle Island.