Ticketbis

Ticketbis emerged in Spain in 2009, founded by Ander Michelena and Jon Uriarte as an online alternative to informal ticket resale. Its initial objective was to build the technical infrastructure needed for people to buy and sell tickets to sporting, musical and cultural events through a centralized platform. The company’s model belonged to the secondary ticketing market: the original ticket holder or another seller controlled the listing price, while Ticketbis provided the marketplace, transaction process and delivery coordination. The platform sought to make resale more structured and geographically accessible. After establishing itself in Spain, it began internationalization in 2011, launching websites in Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Expansion continued with Chile in 2012, followed by Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Russia, Paraguay, Germany and Uruguay in 2013. In 2014, the company entered France and later added a number of Asian markets. The available Wikipedia material describes Ticketbis as having a presence in 31 countries. Ticketbis handled several major categories of live events, including football and other sports, concerts, theatre and cultural programming. Football was a particularly visible use case because a ticket holder unable to attend could offer the ticket to another prospective attendee. The marketplace model also exposed the company to regulatory and reputational disputes. Ticket resale rules differed among jurisdictions, and the reference material identifies the resale of football tickets as illegal in the United Kingdom. More broadly, regulators, event organizers and traditional ticketing businesses questioned whether secondary platforms gave consumers sufficient information about the original price, seller identity and ticket availability. The company defended the secondary market as a mechanism that could match unused tickets with willing buyers and sellers. Critics argued that freely determined resale prices could result in substantial markups and leave less-informed consumers vulnerable. Ticketbis stated that it adhered to the EU Secondary Ticketing Association code of practice. Its operating assurances included a process under which sellers sent tickets for onward delivery and a refund commitment when tickets were not delivered in time for the event. In 2016, eBay purchased Ticketbis and incorporated it into StubHub, then eBay’s ticket-marketplace business. The transaction followed StubHub’s expansion into several non-U.S. markets and represented a further attempt to use an established local platform to broaden international reach. The existing dossier states that Ticketbis was later integrated into the StubHub brand in 2018. The available sources do not provide enough information to determine whether Ticketbis continues as an independent legal or commercial brand, so the standalone brand’s present status remains unconfirmed.

• 2018

  Reported integration into StubHub

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  The existing dossier records that the Ticketbis identity was integrated into the StubHub brand.

• 2016

  Acquisition by eBay for StubHub

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  eBay acquires Ticketbis and incorporates it into StubHub as part of StubHub’s international expansion.

• 2014

  Entry into France and Asian markets

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins operations in France and later expands into seven additional Asian markets.

• 2013

  Further European and Latin American expansion

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  Ticketbis launches in Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Russia, Paraguay, Germany and Uruguay.

• 2012

  Expansion into Chile

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  The platform adds Chile to its international network.

• 2011

  First major international rollout

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  Ticketbis launches operations in Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

• 2009

  Ticketbis is founded in Spain

  [1]Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org

  Ander Michelena and Jon Uriarte establish Ticketbis as an online marketplace for buying and selling tickets to live events.

An international online secondary-ticket marketplace positioned around connecting ticket sellers and buyers through a more organized, technology-enabled transaction process.

• Secondary ticketing · 2009

  Sports tickets

  Ticketbis enabled users to list and purchase tickets for sporting events, with football among the platform’s most prominent use cases. Sellers set the asking price, while Ticketbis provided the marketplace and transaction process. The service was intended to connect holders unable to attend with buyers seeking access, although resale rules differed by country and event.

• Secondary ticketing · 2009

  Music and concert tickets

  The marketplace included tickets for concerts and other music events. Users could offer tickets through the online platform rather than relying on informal resale channels. Ticketbis acted as an intermediary and coordinated the exchange and delivery process between the seller and buyer.

• Secondary ticketing · 2009

  Theatre and cultural-event tickets

  Ticketbis also supported resale of tickets for theatre and cultural events. These listings formed part of the company’s broader effort to operate a general-purpose live-event marketplace rather than a service limited to one entertainment category.

• Marketplace services · 2009

  Ticket transaction and delivery service

  Beyond displaying listings, Ticketbis provided the transaction infrastructure connecting buyers and sellers. Sellers were expected to send tickets after purchase, and Ticketbis coordinated delivery to the buyer. The company stated that buyers would be refunded if tickets were not received in time for the event.

• 2016

  Join StubHub through eBay’s acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Ticketbis had developed an international secondary-ticketing network, while StubHub was seeking additional geographic growth beyond its established markets.

  Action taken

  eBay acquired Ticketbis and incorporated the platform into its StubHub ticket-marketplace business.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded StubHub’s international footprint. The existing dossier indicates that the Ticketbis brand was later integrated into StubHub.

  Source

• 2011

  Begin multinational expansionStrategy

  Background

  After establishing a position in Spain, Ticketbis pursued growth by adapting its online marketplace to additional national markets.

  Action taken

  The company launched localized operations in Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

  Aftermath

  The rollout established the foundation for subsequent expansion across Europe, Latin America and Asia.

  Source

1. 1Ticketbisen.wikipedia.org