Hours before the Brewers took the field for World Series Game 1 at American Family Field, Wisconsin fans say their StubHub tickets simply vanished. Several buyers reported getting messages that their seats were no longer available, with some scrambling overnight to find replacements that cost far more than what they originally paid.
Among them was Ron Wrycza of Oconomowoc, who had three tickets lined up for Game 1. According to FOX6 News, StubHub emailed him at 1 a.m. the day of the game to say there was a problem with his tickets and that he needed to find replacements. By the time he secured new seats, Wrycza had paid $4,600 more than his original purchase — and the replacement tickets were not even together.
Resale prices for Game 1 had already started at more than $2,000 per ticket, according to Yahoo Sports, which reported that a StubHub spokesperson said sellers were unable to complete a limited number of World Series orders. The company did not disclose how many orders were affected or explain why the sellers failed to deliver. StubHub said it had contacted everyone affected and was working to secure replacement tickets where available, with full refunds offered as a backstop.
A Kenosha County Family's Overnight Scramble
The problems extended beyond Oconomowoc. In Kenosha County, Leah and Dirk MacDonald spent $3,278.09 on two Brewers World Series tickets, only to be told late Thursday night that their tickets were unavailable, the unlinked local outlet reported. StubHub had initially confirmed their tickets were ready, but at approximately 11:08 p.m. the company sent a follow-up email saying the tickets needed to be replaced.
The outlet's report noted that StubHub later intervened and arranged replacement World Series tickets for the MacDonalds, including upgraded seating, after the publication made inquiries about their case. It is one of several instances where fans say they were left to fix a problem StubHub created on short notice, with the originally promised seats never materializing as booked.
More Fans Describe Last-Minute Ticket Trouble
According to TMJ4 News, fans across the Milwaukee area spent thousands of dollars on tickets for World Series Games 1 and 2 at American Family Field, only for several to receive messages saying their tickets were no longer available. Sarah Berken, a lifelong Brewers fan from a family of lifelong Brewers fans, said she felt taken advantage of and that other fans were affected as well.
Mary Jane Anttila received a StubHub notice that her tickets were unavailable and said that when she tried to select replacements, no other tickets were available to choose from. Anttila said she believes affected fans should receive more than just a refund — proposing that if the Brewers return home for another game, those fans should get tickets to it. William Sorenson described feeling disappointment and anger toward StubHub over the ordeal, while Alex Leonhardt said he had checked his tickets and looked for a verified seller before spending a large amount of money at the beginning of October, only to later receive a StubHub email offering replacements that did not match what he originally bought.
StubHub's Policy and a Pattern From the World Cup
StubHub backs its sales with what it calls its FanProtect policy, and the company's support page states that it will do its best to find replacement tickets; if none are available or the buyer isn't satisfied, the buyer receives a full refund, per StubHub's own support documentation. The company's global user agreement also states that StubHub does not control or guarantee the existence, quality, safety or legality of tickets sold on its platform. The Brewers said they were aware of the situation but noted they lacked control over tickets purchased through StubHub, since the resale transactions occur independently of the team.
This is not the first time StubHub has faced scrutiny over undelivered tickets to a major sporting event. A CBC News investigation found that StubHub had canceled thousands of tickets for 2026 World Cup events across North America, with one customer told the day before a match that the seller could not provide the tickets at all. Another couple's $4,600 in tickets for a June World Cup match were never delivered, CBC reported.
In California, those disputes escalated into litigation. Two Californians, Julia Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria, sued StubHub in federal court in New York, seeking monetary damages and a ban on the company selling World Cup tickets, according to the Los Angeles Times. Moghal said StubHub canceled three tickets costing nearly $2,000 for a June match that never arrived, while Renteria said he paid about $2,300 for a match in Guadalajara before his tickets were canceled. The Times also reported that some World Cup customers said StubHub notified them days or weeks before their matches of refunds they never requested.
Back in Milwaukee, the Brewers fans left scrambling for World Series seats are hoping their situation gets resolved before the next pitch is thrown. TMJ4 News said it is seeking more information from both StubHub and MLB about the tickets and what options remain for affected fans.
