Why XP is Your MVP for Sports Ticket Resales: A Fan's Honest Look
XP has over 50M tickets to all live events in the USA & Canada
If you’ve ever tried to snag last-minute tickets to that playoff game you absolutely can’t miss, you know the drill. You check StubHub, browse SeatGeek, maybe even venture into the wilds of social media marketplaces—and somehow, you end up paying way more than you expected. The sticker shock at checkout has become so normalized that we’ve forgotten it doesn’t have to be this way.
I remember the exact moment I realized the ticket resale game was broken. It was 2023, and I was trying to buy tickets to see my favorite NBA team in the playoffs. The seats looked reasonable at $85 each—until I hit checkout and watched the total balloon to $224 for two tickets. Fees, service charges, delivery costs... it felt like I was getting nickel-and-dimed at every turn. That’s when I started asking: why do we accept this as normal?
The Hidden Fee Problem That’s Eating Your Wallet
Here’s something most sports fans don’t realize: the ticket resale industry has perfected the art of “drip pricing.” That’s when platforms show you an attractive base price, then slowly add fees as you move through checkout. By the time you see the real total, you’ve already invested time searching, comparing seats, and mentally committed to going. It’s a psychological trick that works frighteningly well.
According to recent research, most major platforms charge around 15% in fees on both the buyer and seller side. That means on a $100 ticket, the actual cost structure looks more like this: the seller receives $85, the buyer pays $115, and the platform pockets $30. That’s a 30% gap between what you pay and what the seller receives—and neither party is particularly thrilled about it.
Traditional platforms like StubHub have historically used this pricing model, showing base prices first and revealing the full cost only when you’re deep in the checkout process. SeatGeek has improved somewhat with its “all-in pricing” option and Deal Score feature, but the experience still varies by event. Ticketmaster’s verified resale system offers security, but typically follows similar fee structures.
What Makes XP Different for Sports Fans
This is where XP flips the script entirely. Instead of playing games with pricing, we show you the real price from the moment you tap on a seat. No surprises, no hidden fees, no checkout shock. The price you see is exactly what you’ll pay—a concept that should be standard but somehow feels revolutionary in 2026.
Our approach isn’t just about transparency (though that’s huge). We’ve built XP specifically to solve the problems that frustrate sports fans most:
Lower prices that actually matter. We’re consistently 20-30% cheaper than other major resale platforms. That’s not marketing speak—it’s the direct result of cutting out unnecessary markups and fees. When you’re buying a family pack for four to catch your local team, those savings add up to real money.
No fee shell games. Other platforms might advertise low buyer fees, only to make up the difference with inflated base prices or seller fees that get passed along. We’ve eliminated the entire hidden fee structure, which means everyone wins: sellers get more, buyers pay less, and nobody feels like they’re being played.
The Quality XPerience™ Guarantee. Sports events come with enough stress—will your team win, will the traffic be terrible, will that hot dog be worth $12? You shouldn’t have to stress about whether your tickets are legitimate. Every transaction on XP is backed by real humans who will resolve any issues. Not bots, not automated responses—actual people who care about getting you into that stadium.
How XP Stacks Up for Different Sports Scenarios
Let’s talk real-world situations, because that’s where platform differences actually matter.
Last-minute playoff tickets: You’ve got two hours before game time and tickets just dropped in price. With XP’s all-in pricing, you can make quick decisions without doing mental math on fees. Our mobile platform lets you compare, purchase, and get digital tickets instantly—no guesswork about final costs.
Season ticket holder selling extras: Maybe you’ve got season tickets but can’t make every game. When you sell on XP (xp.tickets/sell), you get instant offers instead of listing and waiting. No wondering if someone will buy, no racing to drop your price before other sellers. You know exactly what you’ll receive, and you can decide right away whether it’s worth it.
Family outings to regular season games: When you’re buying four tickets, the fee structure makes a massive difference. A $50 ticket on a traditional platform might end up costing $62-65 after fees. Multiply that by four tickets, and you’re paying an extra $48-60 for the same seats. With XP, you save that money for stadium snacks (or, you know, more games).
The Mobile-First Experience Sports Fans Actually Want
Sports fans live on their phones—checking scores, watching highlights, debating calls with friends. Your ticket buying experience should fit naturally into that flow. XP’s mobile platform is designed for how you actually use your phone, not some desktop experience awkwardly crammed onto a smaller screen.
We’ve integrated with the tools sports fans already use daily. Planning to catch a concert after the season ends? The same platform works seamlessly across sports, concerts, theater, and comedy events. You’re not juggling multiple apps with different interfaces and pricing models.
Why Value-Driven Fans Are Making the Switch
The sports ticket market in 2026 is wild. With major events like the World Cup on the horizon and dynamic pricing becoming standard, fans need platforms they can trust to give them fair deals. FIFA’s own resale marketplace charges 15% fees to both buyers and sellers—a model that benefits the platform far more than the fans.
This is exactly what XP was built to challenge. We believe that enjoying live sports shouldn’t require a finance degree to navigate pricing schemes. Young professionals saving up to catch a few games per season, families trying to create memories without breaking the bank, die-hard fans who want to attend as many events as possible—these are the people getting squeezed by inflated resale fees.
When you choose where to buy your sports tickets, you’re not just making a transaction—you’re voting with your wallet about what kind of industry you want. Do you want platforms that maximize their cut through hidden fees and pricing tricks? Or do you want transparent, fair pricing that puts fans first?
Making the Switch: What to Expect
Trying a new ticket platform can feel risky, especially when you’re dealing with important events. Here’s what actually happens when you use XP for sports tickets:
You’ll immediately notice the pricing clarity. Browse seats, tap on one that looks good, and the price you see includes everything. No asterisks, no fine print, no surprises three clicks later.
The inventory is robust. Whether it’s NFL Sundays, NBA action, MLB weeknight games, or that college rivalry matchup, XP has you covered.
When issues arise (and in live events, sometimes they do), you’ll get actual support from people who understand the stakes. Missing your team’s biggest game because of a ticket snafu isn’t acceptable—and we treat it that way.
The Future of Fair Ticket Access
The ticket resale industry is at a crossroads. On one side, you’ve got established platforms doubling down on complex fee structures and profiting from confusion. On the other, you’ve got a growing movement of fans demanding better—transparent pricing, fair access, and platforms that work for them instead of against them.
XP isn’t just another marketplace. We’re a commitment to putting fans first in an industry that’s lost sight of what matters. Every feature we build, every partnership we form, every pricing decision we make starts with one question: is this better for fans?
Sports are about community, passion, and creating memories with the people you care about. The process of getting tickets shouldn’t be an adversarial experience where you feel like you’re getting taken advantage of. It should be simple, fair, and transparent.
That’s the XP difference. Lower prices, zero hidden fees, and the guarantee that real people have your back when you need help. Whether you’re catching your first game or your hundredth, you deserve a ticket platform that respects your time, your money, and your love of the game.
Ready to see how much you can save on your next sports outing? Check out what’s available on XP and experience transparent ticket buying the way it should be. Your team is waiting—and now, getting there is actually affordable.