Saints supporters haven't had dealings with stubhub yet, at least not in connection for tickets for games at St Mary's so here is a little insider info.

Here we reproduce an article from the Football Supporters Federation that explains why it isn't in the best interests of football fans

Secondary ticket agencies aren't popular with fans. FSF Chair Malcolm Clarke has branded them “legalised touts” while over in Germany supporters booted them out of Schalke 04. Back in Britain Spurs fans have penned an open letter to the club asking them to stub out their relationship with StubHub...

We are Tottenham Hotspur supporters who believe the club’s deal with StubHub is not in the best interests of fans buying or selling tickets, and has serious implications for football supporters in general.

With a growing backlash against ticket pricing at the top level of the English game, a deal which best serves the interests of those wishing to make a profit from their fellow fans damages the reputation of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (THFC).

The way StubHub works is intrinsically against the best interests of supporters. The absence of restrictions on pricing has led, in some cases, to tickets being listed at up to 1000% of face value. The average list price for a ticket on StubHub vastly outweighs the ticket’s face value. THFC and StubHub actively encourage supporters to list tickets at high prices, emphasising the seller’s freedom to determine a ticket’s list price is a benefit in publicity for the service.

We would like to have seen an upper pricing limit introduced, in line with MP Sharon Hodgson’s attempt to introduce legislation in Parliament to restrict the resale of tickets to 10% above face value. THFC has an ideal opportunity to set an example by aligning itself with this initiative, therefore gaining respect and goodwill.

We note that secondary ticket agencies have been described as “legalised touts” by Malcolm Clarke, the chair of the Football Supporters' Federation. Furthermore, we note that the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has called for tickets to be sold at face value.

After the Swansea game, the first game for which tickets had changed hands via StubHub, we received reports of supporters having to wait for over an hour at the StubHub pick-up point, with some missing up to 35 minutes of the first half because they were still waiting to be handed their tickets.

We have concerns about the effect this deal has on the value of existing membership schemes because of the number of tickets that will be made available to members. We also have concerns about a number of security issues.

We believe the club’s deal with StubHub should be terminated at the earliest possible opportunity. It should be replaced with a scheme in which the club buys back and sells tickets at face value, possibly through an existing ethical ticket exchange. We would also like to see resale to existing club members prioritised.

We would like to see THFC work with fans’ organisations and other clubs to create an ethical, fair and safe secondary ticketing system, possibly looking to shape legislation to regulate the market.

This deal was agreed without consulting the supporters it directly affects, and has been implemented without their consent. Such actions undermine the efforts of everyone trying to build a constructive dialogue between the club and its fans. We therefore ask that, in future, proper consultation — which means more than informing fans after the event — takes place over any measure that directly affects fans.

This letter is backed by: Dear Mr Levy, Martin Cloake (author and fan), Spurstalk, The Fighting Cock, The Substantive (Mel Gomes), Total Tottenham, Tottenham Blog, Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust and Tottenham on my mind (Alan Fisher).
SPURS FANS' PETITION - Sign here: www.change.org/stopstubhub

Photo: Action Images

redblooded added 11:53 - Sep 24 The only successful solution to these companies, is a general boycott by sellers and buyers, also a rival company advertising a max mark up would certainly get the buyers lined up, but what about the sellers? These supposed supporters, will they play fair or want the money? Only time would tell, but at least it would show exactly what each group wanted?
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Scummer added 12:10 - Sep 24 Any ticket resale should be facilitated by the club. You don't want people hoovering up tickets purely to make profit. Money has already done enough to taint the game, and this would only make things worse. Having said that, if there is a time when i cannot use my season ticket (I am going in for an operation soon) then it would be good to get the face value back (less commission) if Saints can sell the seats again.

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Jesus_02 added 14:05 - Sep 24 The organised purchase of tickets for resale is basically unethical. Companies like stub-hub, viagogo, seatwave are parasites that exist only due to an environment of reduced supply that they contribute directly to. Scummer is also correct about the poor deal that you get as a season ticket holder. Your ticket is non refundable and non-transferable. In legal terms if you happen to be otherwise disposed you simply loose out, while if you are a casual supporter you can even make money on the right game...madness

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birminghamsaint added 18:49 - Sep 24 I suppose most people give their season ticket to a mate if unable to go. even if it is not strictly transferable. it would be nice to have a 'charity pool' option so that unused season tickets could be distributed to some kid on a waiting list (old enough to attend unaccompanied), who had perhaps been nominated for some good work by their school or community. Get more youngsters in to watch football. I have a friend who is a Villa supporter and he only attends about 6 games a year and sells the rest easily on Viagogo rarely at a loss and villa park is not often a sell out nowadays. Perhaps we should hope that Saint Mary's is always a few thousand short of being a sell out, as this re-selling of tickets via ticket agencies can only get worse.

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GeordieSaint added 11:57 - Sep 25 I wanted to go and see Placebo in Manchester in December but the tickets were sold out months in advance. You can buy a £30ish pound ticket on stub-hub for £80-90. It is an absolute liberty that prevents fans with ordinary pockets from getting a fair chance of going. Whatever Saints can do to avoid tickets going on this website should be done. Loads of Saints fans will end up paying hundreds next time there is a Wembley appearance.

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