Unlocking Viagogo and StubHub API Access: Steps and Considerations

If you’ve been searching for a way to access the Viagogo or StubHub API, you’re not alone. Many developers and data enthusiasts are interested in integrating ticket marketplace data into their own applications, tools, or websites. However, gaining access to these APIs isn’t as straightforward as one might hope.

Limited Access for Affiliate Partners

Viagogo and StubHub offer limited API access exclusively to affiliate partners. This means that unless you’re part of their affiliate program, you won’t be able to interact with their API at all. Even as an affiliate, the access is restricted to a small subset of their data. Here are the key details:

• Accessible Endpoints: Affiliates only get access to three endpoints:
  1. Category: Lists categories of events.
  2. Events: Provides event details.
  3. Venue: Shows venue information.
• Available Ticket Information: For each event, affiliates can only retrieve minimal ticket data, specifically:
  • Event name
  • Date and venue location
  • Minimum ticket price (this field may return null if no tickets are available)

Why is Access So Limited?

Viagogo and StubHub are protective of their API due to the competitive nature of the secondary ticketing market. Granting open access to detailed ticket data could lead to misuse, such as unauthorized resale platforms or scraping that negatively impacts their user experience.

Steps to Request API Access

For those who are serious about getting access to the Viagogo or StubHub API, here’s how the process works:

1. Create a Ticket-Related Website: Before applying for the affiliate program, you need to have a functioning website focused on events, tickets, or related content.
2. Sign Up for the Affiliate Program: Join the Viagogo or StubHub affiliate program. This allows you to promote their ticket listings and earn commissions for referred sales.
3. Generate Traffic: It’s crucial to drive some traffic to your website and demonstrate that your platform can contribute value to Viagogo or StubHub’s business.
4. Request API Access: Once you have some traffic, you can formally request access to the API. However, it’s important to note that:
   • Every request is manually audited by Viagogo / StubHub.
   • Approval is not guaranteed, and the process can take time.

What If You Don’t Get Approved?

Unfortunately, if your API access request is denied, there aren’t many alternatives. Viagogo and StubHub do not currently offer any public or paid API plans outside the affiliate program. This means that unless you’re approved as an affiliate, you won’t be able to directly access their data.

Conclusion

While accessing the Viagogo or StubHub API can be valuable for affiliate partners looking to enhance their ticket-related platforms, the process is highly restrictive. Only minimal event and venue information is available, and approval is contingent on meeting their affiliate criteria and passing a manual review. If you’re interested in building a tool or website around ticket marketplaces, joining the affiliate program and generating meaningful traffic is your best bet.

For more detailed documentation, you can visit Viagogo’s Developer Portal.