Eric Baker’s Long, Winding Road to Taking StubHub Public
Eric Baker’s long, winding road to taking StubHub public is a story of resilience, vision, and determination. After decades of setbacks, rivalries, and bold moves across continents, Baker finally achieved the IPO milestone he had been chasing since co-founding the company in 2000.
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StubHub’s public debut on Wednesday may have seen shares close 6% below their IPO price of $23.50, valuing the company at over $7 billion, but the listing itself stands as a major triumph for Baker. For him, it was never just about stock performance on day one—it was about completing a journey that started 25 years ago.
From Stanford Dreams to Startup Struggles
Baker co-founded StubHub with Jeff Fluhr while at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2000. The timing was far from ideal. The dotcom bubble had just burst, and Nasdaq was in free fall. Yet Baker refused to walk away.
“Stupid competitors went away and many of us got a real opportunity to build a lasting business after getting through that dip,” Baker recalled during a Bessemer Venture Partners podcast in 2022.
A Bitter Exit That Fueled His Ambition
By 2004, StubHub was gaining traction, but disagreements between Baker and Fluhr came to a head. Baker was forced out of the company he had helped build.
Instead of retreating, he went global. In 2005, Baker relocated to London and launched Viagogo, a ticket marketplace he envisioned as StubHub’s European counterpart. The road was anything but smooth, but his long-term dream remained the same: bring StubHub and Viagogo together under one roof.
A Bold Move to Reclaim His Creation
That dream finally materialized in 2019 when eBay decided to sell StubHub, which it had acquired in 2007. Baker seized the chance and led Viagogo in purchasing StubHub for $4 billion.
The deal didn’t just reunite him with the company he once lost—it set the stage for the IPO he had envisioned for decades.
Why This IPO Matters More Than the Numbers
While investors focused on StubHub’s stock price dip, Baker viewed the IPO as vindication. His long, winding journey reflects more than financial milestones; it’s about grit, second chances, and seeing a vision through despite setbacks.
Eric Baker’s long, winding road to taking StubHub public may have been marked by detours, but it proves that persistence can turn even the hardest failures into defining victories.
