StubHub, the ticket resale platform backed by Madrone Partners, is preparing to go public with a targeted valuation of up to $9.2 billion. The company plans to raise as much as $851 million by offering 34 million shares priced between $22 and $25, marking its return to IPO plans previously delayed due to tariff-related market uncertainty.
The listing comes as equity markets show renewed strength, buoyed by solid tech earnings and a wave of successful IPOs from firms like Figma and Bullish. StubHub’s debut could serve as a litmus test for investor interest in consumer-facing businesses, which are often more vulnerable to economic shifts than their tech-heavy counterparts.
Founded in 2000 by Jeff Fluhr and Eric Baker, StubHub has undergone significant transformations. Baker left the company before its $310 million acquisition by eBay in 2007, only to reacquire it through his other venture, viagogo, in a $4.05 billion deal in 2020. The company was previously valued at $16.5 billion in 2021, though current IPO pricing suggests a more conservative approach. Some investors believe StubHub’s final valuation may exceed the $9.2 billion target, citing strong demand and favorable market conditions. The live events sector has seen a resurgence, with blockbuster tours like Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” driving record ticket sales and boosting industry revenues.