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IND vs ARG: India gets Savita boost ahead of Argentina tour but will miss Salima’s services  Star goalkeeper and former captain Savita Punia will return to the national women’s hockey team after 10 months, but indisposed skipper Salima Tete will be missing from action when India takes on Argentina in the first game of the four-match series, here on Monday.Savita has not competed since June 2025 as she took a break from the game due to personal reasons. Salima, a quality mid-fielder, is still recovering from a bout of chicken pox.The tour will serve as the ideal preparation for India ahead of the FIH Nations Cup, the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, and the Asian Games later this year.Ahead of the tour, the Indian women’s team trained in Bengaluru before departing for Argentina on Thursday evening.Having finished runner-up at World Cup Qualifiers 2026 held in Hyderabad, the team will be looking to carry that momentum forward into the tour and the rest of the year.Experienced forward Navneet Kaur will serve as the captain of the team during the tour in the absence of Salima. Navneet had recently won Hockey India’s Player of the Year award for her consistent performances. The return of veteran goalkeeper Savita will be a huge boost, with Bichu Devi Kharibam expected to share goalkeeping duties with her.Having recently earned her 200th international cap, Nikki Pradhan will lead the way at the back alongside the vastly experienced Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam.Sharing his thoughts on the tour, India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “We are here with 23 players, who will all get the opportunity to showcase themselves. We will use this tour as an opportunity to play with different team combinations and find ways to win.”“The big goal for me here is to see the individual and team performances against the number two-ranked side in the world.” The likes of Ishika Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Jyoti and Udita also add solidity to India’s back line. Lalthantluangi will also get the opportunity to prove her mettle after earning a call-up to the senior side.ALSO READ | Tim White appointed coach of Indian junior women’s hockey teamWith Salima missing from the line-up, Neha will be anchoring a young midfield unit alongside Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Sunelita Toppo.The likes of Sakshi Rana, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Deepika Soreng, who have impressed at the senior level so far, will get the opportunity to make their mark and cement their place in the starting line-up.Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdung will provide attacking options as well. Mumtaz Khan also returns to the setup and can provide more goal scoring threat, with Annu also in the mix.Published on Apr 12, 2026  #IND #ARG #India #Savita #boost #ahead #Argentina #tour #Salimas #services

IND vs ARG: India gets Savita boost ahead of Argentina tour but will miss Salima’s services

Star goalkeeper and former captain Savita Punia will return to the national women’s hockey team after 10 months, but indisposed skipper Salima Tete will be missing from action when India takes on Argentina in the first game of the four-match series, here on Monday.

Savita has not competed since June 2025 as she took a break from the game due to personal reasons. Salima, a quality mid-fielder, is still recovering from a bout of chicken pox.

The tour will serve as the ideal preparation for India ahead of the FIH Nations Cup, the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, and the Asian Games later this year.

Ahead of the tour, the Indian women’s team trained in Bengaluru before departing for Argentina on Thursday evening.

Having finished runner-up at World Cup Qualifiers 2026 held in Hyderabad, the team will be looking to carry that momentum forward into the tour and the rest of the year.

Experienced forward Navneet Kaur will serve as the captain of the team during the tour in the absence of Salima. Navneet had recently won Hockey India’s Player of the Year award for her consistent performances. The return of veteran goalkeeper Savita will be a huge boost, with Bichu Devi Kharibam expected to share goalkeeping duties with her.

Having recently earned her 200th international cap, Nikki Pradhan will lead the way at the back alongside the vastly experienced Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam.

Sharing his thoughts on the tour, India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “We are here with 23 players, who will all get the opportunity to showcase themselves. We will use this tour as an opportunity to play with different team combinations and find ways to win.”

“The big goal for me here is to see the individual and team performances against the number two-ranked side in the world.” The likes of Ishika Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Jyoti and Udita also add solidity to India’s back line. Lalthantluangi will also get the opportunity to prove her mettle after earning a call-up to the senior side.

ALSO READ | Tim White appointed coach of Indian junior women’s hockey team

With Salima missing from the line-up, Neha will be anchoring a young midfield unit alongside Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Sunelita Toppo.

The likes of Sakshi Rana, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Deepika Soreng, who have impressed at the senior level so far, will get the opportunity to make their mark and cement their place in the starting line-up.

Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdung will provide attacking options as well. Mumtaz Khan also returns to the setup and can provide more goal scoring threat, with Annu also in the mix.

Published on Apr 12, 2026

#IND #ARG #India #Savita #boost #ahead #Argentina #tour #Salimas #services

Star goalkeeper and former captain Savita Punia will return to the national women’s hockey team after 10 months, but indisposed skipper Salima Tete will be missing from action when India takes on Argentina in the first game of the four-match series, here on Monday.

Savita has not competed since June 2025 as she took a break from the game due to personal reasons. Salima, a quality mid-fielder, is still recovering from a bout of chicken pox.

The tour will serve as the ideal preparation for India ahead of the FIH Nations Cup, the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, and the Asian Games later this year.

Ahead of the tour, the Indian women’s team trained in Bengaluru before departing for Argentina on Thursday evening.

Having finished runner-up at World Cup Qualifiers 2026 held in Hyderabad, the team will be looking to carry that momentum forward into the tour and the rest of the year.

Experienced forward Navneet Kaur will serve as the captain of the team during the tour in the absence of Salima. Navneet had recently won Hockey India’s Player of the Year award for her consistent performances. The return of veteran goalkeeper Savita will be a huge boost, with Bichu Devi Kharibam expected to share goalkeeping duties with her.

Having recently earned her 200th international cap, Nikki Pradhan will lead the way at the back alongside the vastly experienced Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam.

Sharing his thoughts on the tour, India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “We are here with 23 players, who will all get the opportunity to showcase themselves. We will use this tour as an opportunity to play with different team combinations and find ways to win.”

“The big goal for me here is to see the individual and team performances against the number two-ranked side in the world.” The likes of Ishika Chaudhary, Manisha Chauhan, Jyoti and Udita also add solidity to India’s back line. Lalthantluangi will also get the opportunity to prove her mettle after earning a call-up to the senior side.

ALSO READ | Tim White appointed coach of Indian junior women’s hockey team

With Salima missing from the line-up, Neha will be anchoring a young midfield unit alongside Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Sunelita Toppo.

The likes of Sakshi Rana, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Deepika Soreng, who have impressed at the senior level so far, will get the opportunity to make their mark and cement their place in the starting line-up.

Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, and Beauty Dungdung will provide attacking options as well. Mumtaz Khan also returns to the setup and can provide more goal scoring threat, with Annu also in the mix.

Published on Apr 12, 2026

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#IND #ARG #India #Savita #boost #ahead #Argentina #tour #Salimas #services

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भारत का चीन को कड़ा मैसेज, अरुणाचल प्रदेश के नाम बदलने की कोशिश खारिज, बोला- काल्पनिक नामों से नहीं बदलेगा सच<p> <p style="float: left;width:100%;text-align:center"> <p style="position:relative;color: #fff"> <img align="center" alt="" class="imgCont" height="961" src="https://nonprod-media.webdunia.com/public_html/_media/hi/img/article/2026-04/12/full/1776014880-3635.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #DDD;margin-right: 0px;float: none;z-index: 0" title="" width="1328" /></p> </p> अरुणाचल प्रदेश के स्थानों के नाम बदलने की चीन की कोशिश पर भारत ने कड़ा विरोध जताया है। विदेश मंत्रालय ने इसे 'शरारती प्रयास' बताते हुए खारिज किया और साफ कहा कि काल्पनिक नामों से हकीकत नहीं बदलेगी। भारत ने दो टूक कहा कि अरुणाचल प्रदेश उसका अभिन्न हिस्सा है और रहेगा, साथ ही ऐसे कदमों से दोनों देशों के संबंधों पर नकारात्मक असर पड़ने की चेतावनी भी दी। भारत ने पिछले साल मई में और अप्रैल 2024 में चीन द्वारा अरुणाचल प्रदेश के कुछ स्थानों के नाम बदलने पर कड़ा रुख अपनाया था।</p> <p> <p> <strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://hindi.webdunia.com/iran-israel-war-news/us-iran-talks-fail-vladimir-putin-offers-mediation-middle-east-tensions-islamabad-126041200049_1.html" target="_blank">US-Iran के बीच 'महानायक' बनेंगे व्लादिमीर पुतिन? शहबाज शरीफ रहे नाकाम, अब रूस कराएगा अमेरिका-ईरान का समझौता</a></strong></p> </p> <h3> चीन ने बदले कुछ जगहों के नाम</h3> <p> पूर्वी लद्दाख सीमा विवाद के बाद 2020 में दोनों देशों के संबंधों में भारी गिरावट आई। पिछले डेढ़ वर्षों में, दोनों पक्षों ने संबंधों को फिर से मजबूत करने के लिए कई कदम उठाए हैं। हाल ही में जारी की गई एक नई सूची में, चीन ने भारतीय क्षेत्र के कुछ स्थानों के नाम बदल दिए हैं। चीनी नागरिक मामलों के मंत्रालय ने 2017 में ज़ांगनान में छह स्थानों के मानकीकृत नामों की पहली सूची जारी की, जबकि 15 स्थानों की दूसरी सूची 2021 में जारी की गई, जिसके बाद 2023 में 11 स्थानों के नामों वाली एक और सूची जारी की गई। जांगनान अरुणाचल प्रदेश का चीनी नाम है। चीन, अरुणाचल प्रदेश को दक्षिणी तिब्बत का हिस्सा होने का दावा करता है। </p> <p> <p> <strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://hindi.webdunia.com/regional-hindi-news/tcs-nashik-sexual-harassment-forced-conversion-case-employees-arrested-126041200046_1.html" target="_blank">Tata Consultancy Services नासिक में बड़ा विवाद, यौन शोषण और जबरन धर्मांतरण के आरोप, 6 गिरफ्तार, कई कर्मचारी निलंबित</a></strong></p> </p> <p> भारत ने रविवार को कहा कि चीन द्वारा भारतीय क्षेत्र को ‘ काल्पनिक नाम’ देना और ‘ निराधार विमर्श’  गढ़ना वास्तविकता को नहीं बदल सकता, लेकिन इससे द्विपक्षीय संबंधों को सामान्य बनाने के प्रयासों पर असर जरूर पड़ सकता है। विदेश मंत्रालय के प्रवक्ता रणधीर जायसवाल ने कहा कि नई दिल्ली भारतीय क्षेत्र के स्थानों को ऐसे नाम देने के चीनी पक्ष के किसी भी 'शरारती प्रयास' को “स्पष्ट रूप से खारिज” करती है। जायसवाल ने कहा कि भारत, चीन द्वारा भारत की भूमि के अंतर्गत आने वाले स्थानों को मनगढ़ंत नाम देने के किसी भी शरारती प्रयास को स्पष्ट रूप से खारिज करता है।”</p> <p> <p> <strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://hindi.webdunia.com/west-bengal-assembly-election-2026-news/yogi-adityanath-bengal-rally-sonamukhi-bjp-attack-tmc-left-election-new-126041200028_1.html" target="_blank">बंगाल चुनाव में गरजे योगी आदित्यनाथ : सोनामुखी रैली में TMC-वाम पर हमला, बोले- 'खेला खत्म, अब विकास शुरू'</a></strong></p> </p> <p> उन्होंने कहा कि चीन द्वारा झूठे दावे पेश करने और निराधार विमर्श गढ़ने के ऐसे प्रयास इस निर्विवाद वास्तविकता को नहीं बदल सकते कि अरुणाचल प्रदेश सहित ये स्थान और क्षेत्र भारत का अभिन्न एवं अविभाज्य हिस्सा थे, हैं और हमेशा रहेंगे।<br /> <p> <strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://hindi.webdunia.com/iran-israel-war-news/donald-trump-hormuz-strait-blockade-us-iran-tensions-naval-action-warning-126041200047_1.html" target="_blank">होर्मुज में न कोई जहाज घुसेगा, न निकलेगा, Donald Trump ने दी ईरान को धमकी</a></strong></p> जायसवाल ने कहा कि चीनी पक्ष के ऐसे प्रयास 'भारत-चीन द्विपक्षीय संबंधों को स्थिर और सामान्य बनाने की कवायद से ध्यान भटकाती हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि चीन को ऐसे कार्यों से बचना चाहिए, जो संबंधों में नकारात्मकता पैदा करते हैं और बेहतर समझ बनाने के प्रयासों को कमजोर करते हैं। Edited by : Sudhir Sharma </p> <br />

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Deadspin | LHP Noah Schultz, White Sox’s No. 2 prospect, set for debut Tuesday <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/26631996.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/26631996.jpg" alt="MLB: All Star-Futures Game" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Jul 12, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; American League pitcher Noah Schultz (22) of the Chicago White Sox stand on the mound during the sixth inning against National League at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Chicago White Sox are promoting No. 2 prospect Noah Schultz, who will make his major league debut in Tuesday’s home game vs. Tampa Bay.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The team announced the news Sunday on its social media accounts with the caption, “Coming soon to a mound near you.”</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The 22-year-old left-hander was Chicago’s first-round pick (26th overall) in the 2022 draft. In 14 innings this season at Triple-A Charlotte, Schultz has posted a 1.29 ERA, striking out 19 and walking two.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-4"> <p>At 6-foot-10, Schultz will become one of the tallest left-handed pitchers in major league history, joining Randy Johnson and Eric Hillman.</p> </section> <section id="section-5"> <p>He threw just 73 total innings across Double-A and Triple-A last season due to a patella injury. Schultz is yet to throw more than 88 1/3 innings in a season since being drafted, dealing with shoulder and hand injuries.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Over five seasons across five levels of minor league competition, Schultz has a career 2.76 ERA in 59 appearances (58 starts) spanning 221 2/3 innings. He has 285 strikeouts against 84 walks.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>According to multiple reports, utilityman Sam Antonacci also will join the White Sox on Tuesday. Antonacci, 23, has posted a .317 batting average and .997 OPS in 13 games for Charlotte this season while learning to play left field. During the World Baseball Classic, Antonacci split his time between second base and shortstop for Team Italy. He batted just 2-of-19 (.105), but slugged a triple and a home run, stole a base and scored five runs for the surprise semifinalists. </p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #LHP #Noah #Schultz #White #Soxs #prospect #set #debut #Tuesday

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

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