StubHub: Event Tickets

What it does

StubHub is a digital marketplace for buying and selling tickets to a vast array of live events. The app allows users to discover concerts, sports games, and theater shows, both locally and globally. Beyond just tickets, it also integrates related services like purchasing parking passes, creating a more comprehensive tool for planning a day or night out.

Where it shines

StubHub excels at creating a personalized and convenient event-finding experience right from the start. The onboarding flow (00:00-02:44) is thorough, using a multi-step quiz to tailor recommendations based on event types, genres, and even specific artists. This pays off immediately on the home screen (02:49), which is populated with relevant suggestions. The app's integration of parking sales (04:29) is a standout feature, seamlessly solving a common pain point for event attendees directly within the ticket browsing flow.

UX highlights

Dynamic welcome: The app opens with an engaging animated collage of puzzle-piece tickets (00:02), which is more captivating than a static screen and immediately communicates the app's wide range of offerings.
Layered personalization: The onboarding quiz drills down from broad categories to specific artists (02:05-02:35), ensuring the initial recommendations are highly relevant.
Integrated map view: The map discovery feature (06:01) provides a powerful visual way to browse for local events, with smooth clustering and easy-to-use filters.
Clear value propositions: Permission requests for location and notifications are preceded by warm-up screens (01:42, 01:51) that explain exactly how the features will benefit the user.
Contextual actions: On an artist's page, users can easily toggle between viewing tickets and parking passes (04:29), a thoughtful addition that anticipates user needs.
Positive reinforcement: The onboarding journey is punctuated by clear success screens with playful animations (01:33, 02:38), which helps maintain momentum through the long setup process.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is not directly shown in this recording, as there is no paywall or subscription prompt. StubHub's primary business model is based on fees collected from ticket resale transactions, which happens at the point of purchase. The app includes a clear path to sell tickets, indicating its dual role as a platform for both buyers and sellers. The integration of parking pass sales (04:29) represents a clever expansion of its revenue streams by bundling related services.

Who it’s for

This app is for anyone who enjoys attending live events. This includes avid music fans following their favorite bands, dedicated sports enthusiasts who want to catch a game, and theater lovers looking for the latest shows. It also caters to casual event-goers who simply want to discover what's happening nearby. The selling feature also makes it a valuable tool for season ticket holders or anyone who can no longer attend an event they've purchased tickets for.

Notes & opportunities

The onboarding flow, while thorough, is quite lengthy and requires a mandatory sign-up upfront. This could be a point of friction for users who want to browse before committing. Allowing users to explore the app as a guest and prompting them to sign up later, perhaps when they try to save a favorite or buy a ticket, could be a worthwhile experiment. Additionally, the list of favorite artists in the profile section could benefit from showing upcoming event counts directly on the list, saving users a tap.