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Deadspin | Fresh off offensive outburst, Cards vie for series win vs. Pirates Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Svanson (49) and catcher Pedro Pages (43) shake hands after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol spoke Sunday of the team’s need to display resilience after absorbing a weekend series sweep at home against the Seattle Mariners. It’s safe to say that Marmol has liked his team’s response. After 4-2 and 11-7 victories in the first two contests of a four-game set at the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis can earn a series win on Wednesday night. “In spring, you have to create some framework for how you want this group to operate mentally,” Marmol said. “What you have to build into that framework is we can’t care about gut punches and let them last longer than a night.” In this series, the Cardinals have been throwing all of the important punches. After scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Monday night for a stunning comeback, they enjoyed their first double-figure scoring output of the year by getting 12 hits on Tuesday. There was production up and down the lineup, including three RBIs each for Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Walker has gotten off to an encouraging start this season after struggling the last two years, getting more balls in the air to properly use his tremendous power. Burleson was mired in a slump until delivering an RBI single and a two-run double Tuesday, while Gorman started the scoring in the second inning with a long homer to right field. It’s the type of progress Marmol and St. Louis are seeking in what many claim is a rebuilding year. “Now you stack those on top of each other over time,” Marmol said. “That’s what’s important.” Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals, hoping to bounce back after a 3-2 loss Friday at home against Seattle. He was charged with three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings. Pallante is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 18 career games against Pittsburgh, five of them starts. The Pirates will turn to right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-2, 4.88 ERA) on Wednesday in an effort to halt a three-game skid. Chandler is coming off a 6-1 defeat Thursday vs. Texas, permitting seven hits and six runs in four innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He won his only prior outing against St. Louis, throwing four shutout innings in relief last August. Chandler said a lack of execution hurt him against the Rangers. “They hit the ball well,” he said. “Flush it. Don’t care about it. Move on. That’s about all I can do. I didn’t execute a lot of pitches.” After winning three straight road series against National League Central opponents in the first two months of the season, Pittsburgh must bounce back on Wednesday to have a chance at a series split. Manager Don Kelly said he hopes to see some of the same push-back that Marmol talked about with the Cardinals. “We’ve been able to do that after tough days,” Kelly said. “We’ve been able to bounce back. We’re in the middle of a tough stretch … they continue to work.” The Pirates did get Oneil Cruz’s ninth homer of the year Tuesday, as well as three RBIs from Ryan O’Hearn. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Fresh #offensive #outburst #Cards #vie #series #win #Pirates

Deadspin | Fresh off offensive outburst, Cards vie for series win vs. Pirates
Deadspin | Fresh off offensive outburst, Cards vie for series win vs. Pirates Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Svanson (49) and catcher Pedro Pages (43) shake hands after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol spoke Sunday of the team’s need to display resilience after absorbing a weekend series sweep at home against the Seattle Mariners. It’s safe to say that Marmol has liked his team’s response. After 4-2 and 11-7 victories in the first two contests of a four-game set at the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis can earn a series win on Wednesday night. “In spring, you have to create some framework for how you want this group to operate mentally,” Marmol said. “What you have to build into that framework is we can’t care about gut punches and let them last longer than a night.” In this series, the Cardinals have been throwing all of the important punches. After scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Monday night for a stunning comeback, they enjoyed their first double-figure scoring output of the year by getting 12 hits on Tuesday. There was production up and down the lineup, including three RBIs each for Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Walker has gotten off to an encouraging start this season after struggling the last two years, getting more balls in the air to properly use his tremendous power. Burleson was mired in a slump until delivering an RBI single and a two-run double Tuesday, while Gorman started the scoring in the second inning with a long homer to right field. It’s the type of progress Marmol and St. Louis are seeking in what many claim is a rebuilding year. “Now you stack those on top of each other over time,” Marmol said. “That’s what’s important.” Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals, hoping to bounce back after a 3-2 loss Friday at home against Seattle. He was charged with three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings. Pallante is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 18 career games against Pittsburgh, five of them starts. The Pirates will turn to right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-2, 4.88 ERA) on Wednesday in an effort to halt a three-game skid. Chandler is coming off a 6-1 defeat Thursday vs. Texas, permitting seven hits and six runs in four innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He won his only prior outing against St. Louis, throwing four shutout innings in relief last August. Chandler said a lack of execution hurt him against the Rangers. “They hit the ball well,” he said. “Flush it. Don’t care about it. Move on. That’s about all I can do. I didn’t execute a lot of pitches.” After winning three straight road series against National League Central opponents in the first two months of the season, Pittsburgh must bounce back on Wednesday to have a chance at a series split. Manager Don Kelly said he hopes to see some of the same push-back that Marmol talked about with the Cardinals. “We’ve been able to do that after tough days,” Kelly said. “We’ve been able to bounce back. We’re in the middle of a tough stretch … they continue to work.” The Pirates did get Oneil Cruz’s ninth homer of the year Tuesday, as well as three RBIs from Ryan O’Hearn. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Fresh #offensive #outburst #Cards #vie #series #win #PiratesApr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Svanson (49) and catcher Pedro Pages (43) shake hands after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol spoke Sunday of the team’s need to display resilience after absorbing a weekend series sweep at home against the Seattle Mariners.

It’s safe to say that Marmol has liked his team’s response.

After 4-2 and 11-7 victories in the first two contests of a four-game set at the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis can earn a series win on Wednesday night.

“In spring, you have to create some framework for how you want this group to operate mentally,” Marmol said. “What you have to build into that framework is we can’t care about gut punches and let them last longer than a night.”

In this series, the Cardinals have been throwing all of the important punches.

After scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Monday night for a stunning comeback, they enjoyed their first double-figure scoring output of the year by getting 12 hits on Tuesday.

There was production up and down the lineup, including three RBIs each for Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Walker has gotten off to an encouraging start this season after struggling the last two years, getting more balls in the air to properly use his tremendous power.

Burleson was mired in a slump until delivering an RBI single and a two-run double Tuesday, while Gorman started the scoring in the second inning with a long homer to right field.

It’s the type of progress Marmol and St. Louis are seeking in what many claim is a rebuilding year.


“Now you stack those on top of each other over time,” Marmol said. “That’s what’s important.”

Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals, hoping to bounce back after a 3-2 loss Friday at home against Seattle. He was charged with three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings.

Pallante is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 18 career games against Pittsburgh, five of them starts.

The Pirates will turn to right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-2, 4.88 ERA) on Wednesday in an effort to halt a three-game skid.

Chandler is coming off a 6-1 defeat Thursday vs. Texas, permitting seven hits and six runs in four innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He won his only prior outing against St. Louis, throwing four shutout innings in relief last August.

Chandler said a lack of execution hurt him against the Rangers.

“They hit the ball well,” he said. “Flush it. Don’t care about it. Move on. That’s about all I can do. I didn’t execute a lot of pitches.”

After winning three straight road series against National League Central opponents in the first two months of the season, Pittsburgh must bounce back on Wednesday to have a chance at a series split. Manager Don Kelly said he hopes to see some of the same push-back that Marmol talked about with the Cardinals.

“We’ve been able to do that after tough days,” Kelly said. “We’ve been able to bounce back. We’re in the middle of a tough stretch … they continue to work.”

The Pirates did get Oneil Cruz’s ninth homer of the year Tuesday, as well as three RBIs from Ryan O’Hearn.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Fresh #offensive #outburst #Cards #vie #series #win #Pirates

Sports news

Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Svanson (49) and catcher Pedro Pages (43) shake hands after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol spoke Sunday of the team’s need to display resilience after absorbing a weekend series sweep at home against the Seattle Mariners.

It’s safe to say that Marmol has liked his team’s response.

After 4-2 and 11-7 victories in the first two contests of a four-game set at the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis can earn a series win on Wednesday night.

“In spring, you have to create some framework for how you want this group to operate mentally,” Marmol said. “What you have to build into that framework is we can’t care about gut punches and let them last longer than a night.”

In this series, the Cardinals have been throwing all of the important punches.

After scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Monday night for a stunning comeback, they enjoyed their first double-figure scoring output of the year by getting 12 hits on Tuesday.

There was production up and down the lineup, including three RBIs each for Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Walker has gotten off to an encouraging start this season after struggling the last two years, getting more balls in the air to properly use his tremendous power.

Burleson was mired in a slump until delivering an RBI single and a two-run double Tuesday, while Gorman started the scoring in the second inning with a long homer to right field.

It’s the type of progress Marmol and St. Louis are seeking in what many claim is a rebuilding year.

“Now you stack those on top of each other over time,” Marmol said. “That’s what’s important.”

Right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals, hoping to bounce back after a 3-2 loss Friday at home against Seattle. He was charged with three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings.

Pallante is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 18 career games against Pittsburgh, five of them starts.

The Pirates will turn to right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-2, 4.88 ERA) on Wednesday in an effort to halt a three-game skid.

Chandler is coming off a 6-1 defeat Thursday vs. Texas, permitting seven hits and six runs in four innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He won his only prior outing against St. Louis, throwing four shutout innings in relief last August.

Chandler said a lack of execution hurt him against the Rangers.

“They hit the ball well,” he said. “Flush it. Don’t care about it. Move on. That’s about all I can do. I didn’t execute a lot of pitches.”

After winning three straight road series against National League Central opponents in the first two months of the season, Pittsburgh must bounce back on Wednesday to have a chance at a series split. Manager Don Kelly said he hopes to see some of the same push-back that Marmol talked about with the Cardinals.

“We’ve been able to do that after tough days,” Kelly said. “We’ve been able to bounce back. We’re in the middle of a tough stretch … they continue to work.”

The Pirates did get Oneil Cruz’s ninth homer of the year Tuesday, as well as three RBIs from Ryan O’Hearn.

–Field Level Media

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Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal — Preview, team news, live streaming info, UEFA Champions League <div id="content-body-70920431" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Atletico Madrid has its sights set upon a spot in the UEFA Champions League final as it takes on Arsenal in the first leg of the semifinals at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday.</p><p>Atletico sits third in La Liga, whereas Arsenal is involved in a title race alongside Manchester City in the Premier League.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal HEAD-TO-HEAD:</h4><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Total matches: 1 </li><li> Arsenal win: 1 </li></ul><h4 class="sub_head">When was the last time Atletico Madrid played Arsenal in the Champions League?</h4><p>Atletico Madrid last played Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League in the 2025-26 Group stage when the English side won 4-0.</p><h4 class="sub_head">When and where will Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal be played?</h4><p>Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 semifinals will be played at the Metropolitano Stadium in Spain. The match is scheduled to kick off on April 29 at 9:00 PM local time (12:30 AM IST, April 30).</p><h4 class="sub_head">How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League?</h4><p>Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League can be watched on the <i>Sony Sports Network</i> on TV in India. Moreover, it can also be live-streamed on <i>SonyLIV</i>.</p><p>In the UK, fans can watch the game on <i>TNT Sports</i> on TV. It can also be live-streamed on the HBO Max app and website, on a subscriber-only basis.</p><p>In the USA, Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal can be watched on <i>Paramount+</i>.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 29, 2026</p></div> #Atletico #Madrid #Arsenal #Preview #team #news #live #streaming #info #UEFA #Champions #League

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IPL 2026: RCB coach Flower confident ‘all-weather’ bowling attack can thrive in all conditions <div id="content-body-70921621" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Tone-setting batting performances in the PowerPlay are non-negotiable to success in T20 cricket. But Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) also excels in something else – taking bucketloads of wickets in the first six overs to peg its opponents back.</p><p>In the previous match, RCB had Delhi Capitals at eight for six in 3.5 overs, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood wreaking havoc.</p><p>“We’ve been very good at taking PowerPlay wickets, and we did that well last season also,” said head coach Andy Flower, ahead of the encounter against Gujarat Titans.</p><p>“[Against DC], things came together so quickly and so well that the game was over in the blink of an eye. It was great to watch those two greats, Bhuvi and Hazlewood, bowl.”</p><p>Thursday’s contest, in Flower’s own words, will be on a surface “that plays well”. But the former Zimbabwe captain said that RCB had an all-weather attack.</p><p>“We’re playing on a 75 per cent red-soil pitch. It’s the same that we played the final on last year. But we’re comfortable with whatever conditions are put in front of us.”</p><p>Flower also stated that it was important to forget that RCB had six wins in eight games and start afresh. “It’s really important that philosophically you don’t try to hold on to stuff. It’s better to embrace the vagaries and the unpredictability of the game.”</p><p>GT too has a capable set of bowlers, and assistant coach Parthiv Patel, like Flower, opined that the pitch wouldn’t matter.</p><p>“We are well-rounded with our bowling options,” the former India wicket-keeper said. “We had Manav Suthar bowl. There is the option of Washington Sundar, and there’s Rashid Khan.</p><p>“So, we have seven bowlers [along with Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna / Arshad Khan] who can bowl four overs each. It’s not like we have to make do with part-time bowlers.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 29, 2026</p></div> #IPL #RCB #coach #Flower #confident #allweather #bowling #attack #thrive #conditions

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Expanding technology and resale options were supposed to make obtaining tickets to sporting events easier than ever, but instead it’s become a hellscape. Scalpers dominate online platforms, ensuring that desirable events sell out immediately, causing local sports fans to miss out unless they’re willing to pay exorbitant prices for fear of missing out.

It’s now been revealed that one of the biggest stakeholders in online ticket sales is helping fund the very people ruining ticket sales for sports fans. An investigative report by the CBC uncovered information inside StubHub’s IPO filing from last November, which revealed that CEO Eric Baker also runs a hedge fund which scalps tickets, and provides funding to scalpers.

When asked for comment, StubHub reiterated its public-facing comment that the company doesn’t own or hold any tickets itself.

“StubHub does not own, possess, or sell tickets. We are a technology platform that connects independent buyers and sellers. (Think: eBay).”

This comment conveniently ignores that some of these “independent buyers” are being directly aided by the CEO of the company. Of course, the devil is in the details. Nobody is accusing StubHub of owning the tickets for their own sale, but it’s now clear that the top of the company is heavily invested in inflating its own marketplace. We discussed this fundamental issue late in the NBA and NHL playoffs, with how reselling sites like StubHub have a vested interest in scalpers, because their percentage-based resale fees are better for the company when event tickets soar — while also giving them multiple bites of the apple if the tickets are sold multiple times on the platform.

Baker, the StubHub CEO, reportedly is a large stakeholder in “Andro Capital,” a hedge fund based out of Los Angeles, which offers loan funding to large scale ticket purchasing operates which have the express purpose of buying tickets and reselling them for profit on platforms like StubHub.

Filing documents for Andro Capital show the hedge fund was formed in March of 2024, 18 months before StubHub announced it was going public in an IPO filing. In that filing to the SEC StubHub revealed its deep relationship with Andro, including this key detail from 2024:

On April 15, 2024, as part of our ongoing relationship with Andro, we entered into an agreement with the Andro Fund under which we agreed to cover certain costs incurred by Andro in connection with ticket management services.

StubHub was not required to divulge the totality of this agreement with Andro Fund, but having the company “cover certain costs incurred” raises mammoth red flags. That theoretically means that the hedge fund could have waived reselling feels on the seller side of the transaction, thereby incentivizing the fund to scalping operations. In short, the business flow could look like this:

  1. A scalping group has capital to buy massive amounts of tickets
  2. Rather than invest themselves, it’s better to invest their money in Andro to do the buying, because they have an agreement with StubHub to cover some of their expenses
  3. Andro profits off the inflated ticket sales
  4. StubHub benefits through massively inflated prices, which they profit off through buyer fees

That’s not all. The filing also lists “Colloquy LLC,” a subsidiary of Andro Capital, which serves as a loan servicing arm for tickets sellers — offering financing to mass buy tickets, which they resell on StubHub directly.

Under the terms of the Program Agreement, we refer certain of our sellers to Colloquy for the opportunity to enter into separate financing arrangements with Colloquy. Under such arrangements, it is anticipated that Colloquy may provide short-term financing to sellers based on those sellers’ existing and/or future expected proceeds generated through ticket sales on our platform.

Not only is Andro Capital its own ticket buyer, but it also runs an arm of the company that gives funding to sellers, based on referrals from StubHub itself. Essentially, the entire scalping business is fully intertwined with StubHub, from the CEO being involved in a large-scale seller AND offering funding to sellers.

The only person who loses out in this whole transaction are sports fans. The consumers who use the platform are being held hostage by ticket prices, which fundamentally wouldn’t be inflated to the same level without the input of StubHub. This is all legal from the SEC’s perspective due to a lack of oversight when it comes to hedge funds. There are few other industries in which a publicly traded company could be legally allowed to price fix to the level that is happening on StubHub, while trying to pretend with its public face that it’s just a platform for fans to sell to other fans.

There should be an immediate investigation into ticket pricing, as well as outlawing the kinds of predatory practices designed to inflate the wealth of StubHub and Andro Capital at the expense of consumers.

#StubHubs #CEO #helping #fund #biggest #ticket #scalpers">StubHub’s CEO is helping fund the biggest ticket scalpers Expanding technology and resale options were supposed to make obtaining tickets to sporting events easier than ever, but instead it’s become a hellscape. Scalpers dominate online platforms, ensuring that desirable events sell out immediately, causing local sports fans to miss out unless they’re willing to pay exorbitant prices for fear of missing out.It’s now been revealed that one of the biggest stakeholders in online ticket sales is helping fund the very people ruining ticket sales for sports fans. An investigative report by the CBC uncovered information inside StubHub’s IPO filing from last November, which revealed that CEO Eric Baker also runs a hedge fund which scalps tickets, and provides funding to scalpers.When asked for comment, StubHub reiterated its public-facing comment that the company doesn’t own or hold any tickets itself.“StubHub does not own, possess, or sell tickets. We are a technology platform that connects independent buyers and sellers. (Think: eBay).”This comment conveniently ignores that some of these “independent buyers” are being directly aided by the CEO of the company. Of course, the devil is in the details. Nobody is accusing StubHub of owning the tickets for their own sale, but it’s now clear that the top of the company is heavily invested in inflating its own marketplace. We discussed this fundamental issue late in the NBA and NHL playoffs, with how reselling sites like StubHub have a vested interest in scalpers, because their percentage-based resale fees are better for the company when event tickets soar — while also giving them multiple bites of the apple if the tickets are sold multiple times on the platform.Baker, the StubHub CEO, reportedly is a large stakeholder in “Andro Capital,” a hedge fund based out of Los Angeles, which offers loan funding to large scale ticket purchasing operates which have the express purpose of buying tickets and reselling them for profit on platforms like StubHub.Filing documents for Andro Capital show the hedge fund was formed in March of 2024, 18 months before StubHub announced it was going public in an IPO filing. In that filing to the SEC StubHub revealed its deep relationship with Andro, including this key detail from 2024:On April 15, 2024, as part of our ongoing relationship with Andro, we entered into an agreement with the Andro Fund under which we agreed to cover certain costs incurred by Andro in connection with ticket management services.StubHub was not required to divulge the totality of this agreement with Andro Fund, but having the company “cover certain costs incurred” raises mammoth red flags. That theoretically means that the hedge fund could have waived reselling feels on the seller side of the transaction, thereby incentivizing the fund to scalping operations. In short, the business flow could look like this:A scalping group has capital to buy massive amounts of ticketsRather than invest themselves, it’s better to invest their money in Andro to do the buying, because they have an agreement with StubHub to cover some of their expensesAndro profits off the inflated ticket salesStubHub benefits through massively inflated prices, which they profit off through buyer feesThat’s not all. The filing also lists “Colloquy LLC,” a subsidiary of Andro Capital, which serves as a loan servicing arm for tickets sellers — offering financing to mass buy tickets, which they resell on StubHub directly.Under the terms of the Program Agreement, we refer certain of our sellers to Colloquy for the opportunity to enter into separate financing arrangements with Colloquy. Under such arrangements, it is anticipated that Colloquy may provide short-term financing to sellers based on those sellers’ existing and/or future expected proceeds generated through ticket sales on our platform.Not only is Andro Capital its own ticket buyer, but it also runs an arm of the company that gives funding to sellers, based on referrals from StubHub itself. Essentially, the entire scalping business is fully intertwined with StubHub, from the CEO being involved in a large-scale seller AND offering funding to sellers.The only person who loses out in this whole transaction are sports fans. The consumers who use the platform are being held hostage by ticket prices, which fundamentally wouldn’t be inflated to the same level without the input of StubHub. This is all legal from the SEC’s perspective due to a lack of oversight when it comes to hedge funds. There are few other industries in which a publicly traded company could be legally allowed to price fix to the level that is happening on StubHub, while trying to pretend with its public face that it’s just a platform for fans to sell to other fans.There should be an immediate investigation into ticket pricing, as well as outlawing the kinds of predatory practices designed to inflate the wealth of StubHub and Andro Capital at the expense of consumers. #StubHubs #CEO #helping #fund #biggest #ticket #scalpers

instead it’s become a hellscape. Scalpers dominate online platforms, ensuring that desirable events sell out immediately, causing local sports fans to miss out unless they’re willing to pay exorbitant prices for fear of missing out.

It’s now been revealed that one of the biggest stakeholders in online ticket sales is helping fund the very people ruining ticket sales for sports fans. An investigative report by the CBC uncovered information inside StubHub’s IPO filing from last November, which revealed that CEO Eric Baker also runs a hedge fund which scalps tickets, and provides funding to scalpers.

When asked for comment, StubHub reiterated its public-facing comment that the company doesn’t own or hold any tickets itself.

“StubHub does not own, possess, or sell tickets. We are a technology platform that connects independent buyers and sellers. (Think: eBay).”

This comment conveniently ignores that some of these “independent buyers” are being directly aided by the CEO of the company. Of course, the devil is in the details. Nobody is accusing StubHub of owning the tickets for their own sale, but it’s now clear that the top of the company is heavily invested in inflating its own marketplace. We discussed this fundamental issue late in the NBA and NHL playoffs, with how reselling sites like StubHub have a vested interest in scalpers, because their percentage-based resale fees are better for the company when event tickets soar — while also giving them multiple bites of the apple if the tickets are sold multiple times on the platform.

Baker, the StubHub CEO, reportedly is a large stakeholder in “Andro Capital,” a hedge fund based out of Los Angeles, which offers loan funding to large scale ticket purchasing operates which have the express purpose of buying tickets and reselling them for profit on platforms like StubHub.

Filing documents for Andro Capital show the hedge fund was formed in March of 2024, 18 months before StubHub announced it was going public in an IPO filing. In that filing to the SEC StubHub revealed its deep relationship with Andro, including this key detail from 2024:

On April 15, 2024, as part of our ongoing relationship with Andro, we entered into an agreement with the Andro Fund under which we agreed to cover certain costs incurred by Andro in connection with ticket management services.

StubHub was not required to divulge the totality of this agreement with Andro Fund, but having the company “cover certain costs incurred” raises mammoth red flags. That theoretically means that the hedge fund could have waived reselling feels on the seller side of the transaction, thereby incentivizing the fund to scalping operations. In short, the business flow could look like this:

  1. A scalping group has capital to buy massive amounts of tickets
  2. Rather than invest themselves, it’s better to invest their money in Andro to do the buying, because they have an agreement with StubHub to cover some of their expenses
  3. Andro profits off the inflated ticket sales
  4. StubHub benefits through massively inflated prices, which they profit off through buyer fees

That’s not all. The filing also lists “Colloquy LLC,” a subsidiary of Andro Capital, which serves as a loan servicing arm for tickets sellers — offering financing to mass buy tickets, which they resell on StubHub directly.

Under the terms of the Program Agreement, we refer certain of our sellers to Colloquy for the opportunity to enter into separate financing arrangements with Colloquy. Under such arrangements, it is anticipated that Colloquy may provide short-term financing to sellers based on those sellers’ existing and/or future expected proceeds generated through ticket sales on our platform.

Not only is Andro Capital its own ticket buyer, but it also runs an arm of the company that gives funding to sellers, based on referrals from StubHub itself. Essentially, the entire scalping business is fully intertwined with StubHub, from the CEO being involved in a large-scale seller AND offering funding to sellers.

The only person who loses out in this whole transaction are sports fans. The consumers who use the platform are being held hostage by ticket prices, which fundamentally wouldn’t be inflated to the same level without the input of StubHub. This is all legal from the SEC’s perspective due to a lack of oversight when it comes to hedge funds. There are few other industries in which a publicly traded company could be legally allowed to price fix to the level that is happening on StubHub, while trying to pretend with its public face that it’s just a platform for fans to sell to other fans.

There should be an immediate investigation into ticket pricing, as well as outlawing the kinds of predatory practices designed to inflate the wealth of StubHub and Andro Capital at the expense of consumers.

#StubHubs #CEO #helping #fund #biggest #ticket #scalpers">StubHub’s CEO is helping fund the biggest ticket scalpers

Expanding technology and resale options were supposed to make obtaining tickets to sporting events easier than ever, but instead it’s become a hellscape. Scalpers dominate online platforms, ensuring that desirable events sell out immediately, causing local sports fans to miss out unless they’re willing to pay exorbitant prices for fear of missing out.

It’s now been revealed that one of the biggest stakeholders in online ticket sales is helping fund the very people ruining ticket sales for sports fans. An investigative report by the CBC uncovered information inside StubHub’s IPO filing from last November, which revealed that CEO Eric Baker also runs a hedge fund which scalps tickets, and provides funding to scalpers.

When asked for comment, StubHub reiterated its public-facing comment that the company doesn’t own or hold any tickets itself.

“StubHub does not own, possess, or sell tickets. We are a technology platform that connects independent buyers and sellers. (Think: eBay).”

This comment conveniently ignores that some of these “independent buyers” are being directly aided by the CEO of the company. Of course, the devil is in the details. Nobody is accusing StubHub of owning the tickets for their own sale, but it’s now clear that the top of the company is heavily invested in inflating its own marketplace. We discussed this fundamental issue late in the NBA and NHL playoffs, with how reselling sites like StubHub have a vested interest in scalpers, because their percentage-based resale fees are better for the company when event tickets soar — while also giving them multiple bites of the apple if the tickets are sold multiple times on the platform.

Baker, the StubHub CEO, reportedly is a large stakeholder in “Andro Capital,” a hedge fund based out of Los Angeles, which offers loan funding to large scale ticket purchasing operates which have the express purpose of buying tickets and reselling them for profit on platforms like StubHub.

Filing documents for Andro Capital show the hedge fund was formed in March of 2024, 18 months before StubHub announced it was going public in an IPO filing. In that filing to the SEC StubHub revealed its deep relationship with Andro, including this key detail from 2024:

On April 15, 2024, as part of our ongoing relationship with Andro, we entered into an agreement with the Andro Fund under which we agreed to cover certain costs incurred by Andro in connection with ticket management services.

StubHub was not required to divulge the totality of this agreement with Andro Fund, but having the company “cover certain costs incurred” raises mammoth red flags. That theoretically means that the hedge fund could have waived reselling feels on the seller side of the transaction, thereby incentivizing the fund to scalping operations. In short, the business flow could look like this:

  1. A scalping group has capital to buy massive amounts of tickets
  2. Rather than invest themselves, it’s better to invest their money in Andro to do the buying, because they have an agreement with StubHub to cover some of their expenses
  3. Andro profits off the inflated ticket sales
  4. StubHub benefits through massively inflated prices, which they profit off through buyer fees

That’s not all. The filing also lists “Colloquy LLC,” a subsidiary of Andro Capital, which serves as a loan servicing arm for tickets sellers — offering financing to mass buy tickets, which they resell on StubHub directly.

Under the terms of the Program Agreement, we refer certain of our sellers to Colloquy for the opportunity to enter into separate financing arrangements with Colloquy. Under such arrangements, it is anticipated that Colloquy may provide short-term financing to sellers based on those sellers’ existing and/or future expected proceeds generated through ticket sales on our platform.

Not only is Andro Capital its own ticket buyer, but it also runs an arm of the company that gives funding to sellers, based on referrals from StubHub itself. Essentially, the entire scalping business is fully intertwined with StubHub, from the CEO being involved in a large-scale seller AND offering funding to sellers.

The only person who loses out in this whole transaction are sports fans. The consumers who use the platform are being held hostage by ticket prices, which fundamentally wouldn’t be inflated to the same level without the input of StubHub. This is all legal from the SEC’s perspective due to a lack of oversight when it comes to hedge funds. There are few other industries in which a publicly traded company could be legally allowed to price fix to the level that is happening on StubHub, while trying to pretend with its public face that it’s just a platform for fans to sell to other fans.

There should be an immediate investigation into ticket pricing, as well as outlawing the kinds of predatory practices designed to inflate the wealth of StubHub and Andro Capital at the expense of consumers.

#StubHubs #CEO #helping #fund #biggest #ticket #scalpers

France’s march to the World Cup semifinals has been ‌powered by the goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but the players believe ​an equally important part of their success has been forged away from the ⁠cameras, in private conversations without the coaching staff.

Didier Deschamps’ side faces Spain on Tuesday, seeking to reach a third successive World Cup final, having developed a unity that midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Jules Kounde say ‌extends well beyond tactical meetings and training sessions.

The players analyse matches together in small groups, challenging each other and taking responsibility for finding solutions beyond those provided by ‌Deschamps and his assistants.

“We communicate a lot and talk among ourselves regularly,” Rabiot told reporters on ‌Monday.

“At ⁠the hotel, during our downtime, we try to analyse matches together in small groups. ⁠That is important, beyond everything the coach and his staff provide. We all speak the same language, we all have the same objective and everyone is directing their energy towards it. What the staff bring us is essential, but the dialogue between ​the players, without the staff being involved, is ‌important as well.”

That sense of ownership has helped France combine one of the tournament’s most potent attacks with a collective defensive effort that begins with the forwards.

Mbappe has scored eight goals and Dembele five, but Kounde said France’s work without the ball had been as important as their ‌individual quality in possession.

“We have done a good job defensively, but it goes well beyond ​the defenders,” Kounde said.

“It is a collective effort, starting with the way we press from the opposition’s very first pass. When the work is done properly higher ⁠up the pitch and in midfield, it makes our job at the back much easier.”

France’s cohesion has been visible in the willingness of their attacking players to track back and in the discipline with which ‌the team have defended difficult moments.

STRONG RELATIONSHIPS

The players insist that what happens on the pitch is an extension of relationships built elsewhere.

“We get on very well,” Rabiot said. “There is a real sense of harmony and genuine cohesion. It is difficult to explain, but things work extremely well away from the pitch, and that energy carries over onto it.”

Kounde described a group that enjoyed playing together and making sacrifices for one another.

“There has been a strong sense of cohesion since the very beginning — even going back to 2022,” ‌he said.

“There is continuity within this group. It has been built over time, and everyone is focused on the same ​objective. That is one of our strengths, and you can feel it on the pitch. We enjoy playing together and we also enjoy making the effort for one another.”

France’s ⁠run has also taken place against the backdrop of Deschamps’ decision to step down after the tournament, ending ⁠a reign that began in 2012 and included victory at the 2018 World Cup and another final four years later. The 57-year-old had to deal with a personal loss too during this World Cup after his mother died during the group stage.

Rabiot said the ‌knowledge that this was Deschamps’ final competition had given the players an additional emotional drive.

“The difficulties the coach has gone through have brought us even closer together,” he said. “You want to give ​everything, especially knowing that this is his last competition in charge of the France team. This is the moment.”

Published on Jul 14, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Frances #secret #weapon #Communication #analysis #field">FIFA World Cup 2026 — France’s secret weapon: Communication and analysis beyond the field France’s march to the World Cup semifinals has been ‌powered by the goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but the players believe ​an equally important part of their success has been forged away from the ⁠cameras, in private conversations without the coaching staff.Didier Deschamps’ side faces Spain on Tuesday, seeking to reach a third successive World Cup final, having developed a unity that midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Jules Kounde say ‌extends well beyond tactical meetings and training sessions.The players analyse matches together in small groups, challenging each other and taking responsibility for finding solutions beyond those provided by ‌Deschamps and his assistants.“We communicate a lot and talk among ourselves regularly,” Rabiot told reporters on ‌Monday.“At ⁠the hotel, during our downtime, we try to analyse matches together in small groups. ⁠That is important, beyond everything the coach and his staff provide. We all speak the same language, we all have the same objective and everyone is directing their energy towards it. What the staff bring us is essential, but the dialogue between ​the players, without the staff being involved, is ‌important as well.”That sense of ownership has helped France combine one of the tournament’s most potent attacks with a collective defensive effort that begins with the forwards.Mbappe has scored eight goals and Dembele five, but Kounde said France’s work without the ball had been as important as their ‌individual quality in possession.“We have done a good job defensively, but it goes well beyond ​the defenders,” Kounde said.“It is a collective effort, starting with the way we press from the opposition’s very first pass. When the work is done properly higher ⁠up the pitch and in midfield, it makes our job at the back much easier.”France’s cohesion has been visible in the willingness of their attacking players to track back and in the discipline with which ‌the team have defended difficult moments.STRONG RELATIONSHIPSThe players insist that what happens on the pitch is an extension of relationships built elsewhere.“We get on very well,” Rabiot said. “There is a real sense of harmony and genuine cohesion. It is difficult to explain, but things work extremely well away from the pitch, and that energy carries over onto it.”Kounde described a group that enjoyed playing together and making sacrifices for one another.“There has been a strong sense of cohesion since the very beginning — even going back to 2022,” ‌he said.“There is continuity within this group. It has been built over time, and everyone is focused on the same ​objective. That is one of our strengths, and you can feel it on the pitch. We enjoy playing together and we also enjoy making the effort for one another.”France’s ⁠run has also taken place against the backdrop of Deschamps’ decision to step down after the tournament, ending ⁠a reign that began in 2012 and included victory at the 2018 World Cup and another final four years later. The 57-year-old had to deal with a personal loss too during this World Cup after his mother died during the group stage.Rabiot said the ‌knowledge that this was Deschamps’ final competition had given the players an additional emotional drive.“The difficulties the coach has gone through have brought us even closer together,” he said. “You want to give ​everything, especially knowing that this is his last competition in charge of the France team. This is the moment.”Published on Jul 14, 2026 #FIFA #World #Cup #Frances #secret #weapon #Communication #analysis #field

Deadspin | Tommy Fleetwood chasing hometown heroics at The Open Jul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Tommy Fleetwood speaks with the media during a practice round day for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Tommy Fleetwood hopes home-field advantage will lead the two-time Grand Slam runner-up to his first major title this week at The Open Championship. The 35-year-old Englishman grew up down the road from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, site of the final major on this season’s PGA Tour calendar. “It’s obviously very, very special. I think for anybody that was lucky enough to grow up in the town of Southport. It’s such a golfing town, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a special place in the area,” Fleetwood said at Monday’s pre-tournament press conference. “Yeah, it’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. Yeah, just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody. It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. Very excited.” Fleetwood enters the 154th Open ranked No. 9 in the world. He has finished in the top five in all four Grand Slams in his career, including second place at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irishman Shane Lowry ran away to win by six strokes. This year, Fleetwood finished T11 at the U.S. Open, T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He also has two other top-10 efforts in The Open Championship: T4 in 2022 and T10 in 2023. Fleetwood is not only trying to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, but he also aims to improve on his T27 finish from the last time it was held at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Fleetwood was asked about the pressure of expectations on his shoulders this week. “I think what you do have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations, but I think at the same time, I’m no different to any other person in terms of every single person that is playing in The Open dreams of winning in The Open and wants to win it,” he said. “There’s really nothing different to anybody else in that sense. I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel. “I think the first time I played here in 2017, I obviously had a bad first round (76). I think my round on Friday (69) was one of the best rounds I ever played to make the cut, and Saturday (66) was a great experience.” Fleetwood admitted sneaking onto the course “once or twice” as a kid. “Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport, and I definitely didn’t get to play here as much as I would like to,” he said. If it’s considered hallowed ground now, imagine what it will be like if a hometown hero hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday. “Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it,” Fleetwood said. “Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tommy #Fleetwood #chasing #hometown #heroics #OpenJul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Tommy Fleetwood speaks with the media during a practice round day for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Tommy Fleetwood hopes home-field advantage will lead the two-time Grand Slam runner-up to his first major title this week at The Open Championship.

The 35-year-old Englishman grew up down the road from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, site of the final major on this season’s PGA Tour calendar.

“It’s obviously very, very special. I think for anybody that was lucky enough to grow up in the town of Southport. It’s such a golfing town, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a special place in the area,” Fleetwood said at Monday’s pre-tournament press conference.

“Yeah, it’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. Yeah, just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody. It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. Very excited.”

Fleetwood enters the 154th Open ranked No. 9 in the world. He has finished in the top five in all four Grand Slams in his career, including second place at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irishman Shane Lowry ran away to win by six strokes.

This year, Fleetwood finished T11 at the U.S. Open, T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He also has two other top-10 efforts in The Open Championship: T4 in 2022 and T10 in 2023.

Fleetwood is not only trying to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, but he also aims to improve on his T27 finish from the last time it was held at Royal Birkdale in 2017.


Fleetwood was asked about the pressure of expectations on his shoulders this week.

“I think what you do have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations, but I think at the same time, I’m no different to any other person in terms of every single person that is playing in The Open dreams of winning in The Open and wants to win it,” he said.

“There’s really nothing different to anybody else in that sense. I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel.

“I think the first time I played here in 2017, I obviously had a bad first round (76). I think my round on Friday (69) was one of the best rounds I ever played to make the cut, and Saturday (66) was a great experience.”

Fleetwood admitted sneaking onto the course “once or twice” as a kid.

“Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport, and I definitely didn’t get to play here as much as I would like to,” he said.

If it’s considered hallowed ground now, imagine what it will be like if a hometown hero hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday.

“Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it,” Fleetwood said. “Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tommy #Fleetwood #chasing #hometown #heroics #Open">Deadspin | Tommy Fleetwood chasing hometown heroics at The Open Jul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Tommy Fleetwood speaks with the media during a practice round day for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Tommy Fleetwood hopes home-field advantage will lead the two-time Grand Slam runner-up to his first major title this week at The Open Championship. The 35-year-old Englishman grew up down the road from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, site of the final major on this season’s PGA Tour calendar. “It’s obviously very, very special. I think for anybody that was lucky enough to grow up in the town of Southport. It’s such a golfing town, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a special place in the area,” Fleetwood said at Monday’s pre-tournament press conference. “Yeah, it’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. Yeah, just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody. It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. Very excited.” Fleetwood enters the 154th Open ranked No. 9 in the world. He has finished in the top five in all four Grand Slams in his career, including second place at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irishman Shane Lowry ran away to win by six strokes. This year, Fleetwood finished T11 at the U.S. Open, T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He also has two other top-10 efforts in The Open Championship: T4 in 2022 and T10 in 2023. Fleetwood is not only trying to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, but he also aims to improve on his T27 finish from the last time it was held at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Fleetwood was asked about the pressure of expectations on his shoulders this week. “I think what you do have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations, but I think at the same time, I’m no different to any other person in terms of every single person that is playing in The Open dreams of winning in The Open and wants to win it,” he said. “There’s really nothing different to anybody else in that sense. I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel. “I think the first time I played here in 2017, I obviously had a bad first round (76). I think my round on Friday (69) was one of the best rounds I ever played to make the cut, and Saturday (66) was a great experience.” Fleetwood admitted sneaking onto the course “once or twice” as a kid. “Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport, and I definitely didn’t get to play here as much as I would like to,” he said. If it’s considered hallowed ground now, imagine what it will be like if a hometown hero hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday. “Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it,” Fleetwood said. “Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tommy #Fleetwood #chasing #hometown #heroics #Open

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